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If you’ve ever witnessed a crime…ever been the victim of abuse, sexual or otherwise…ever served time in a combat zone…or been involved in a natural disaster, you may be suffering a post-traumatic reaction and not know it.
Traumatic situations leave a lingering stain on your psyche. This can lead to abusing alcohol or drugs and can make relationships difficult. You may struggle with depression or anxiety. Close associates might tell you that you have anger issues. All these feelings can be overwhelming. You might just think you’re crazy.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Traumatic events in your life might be having more of an effect than you think. The rapidly expanding field of neuroscience is discovering the process of brain development and how early childhood trauma can disregulate a child to the point of extreme dysfunction. These children are typically prone to respond to stress by shifting into a hyperarousal or disassociative state. This generally results in a higher than normal heart rate and other physical symptoms. Misbehavior is common. Traumatized kids may live in stress states. If they’re not understood, they can be labeled with a variety of inaccurate psychiatric diagnoses.
Exposure to traumatic events can have a significant impact on you, even when you’re an adult. Trauma survivors develop symptoms, in an attempt to find normal lives, that can be both distressing and harmful. Survivors tend to want to forget their horrific experiences and move on, but forgetting isn’t easy…and isn’t actually helpful.
Soldiers returning home from war have clearly been exposed to horrific images and terrifying events, but trauma can be just as dreadful when it’s closer to home. A larger percentage of individuals have suffered through traumatic episodes than previously recognized. If these events impact a large group of people (wars, bombings, etc) and gain a lot of media coverage, individuals usually know they’ve had some impact from the disturbing events. When the traumatic experience is less public---physical or sexual abuse as a child or adult, being involved in a significant traffic event, witnessing the violent or unexpected death of a loved one---some individuals swallow their distress and try their best to soldier on.
The result can be post-traumatic stress disorder that’s unrecognized and untreated. Like an internal injury, the impact on function is still present. Relationships can fall apart. Individuals may feel like they don’t know why they’re behaving the way they are.
There is help. With understanding and support, you can incorporate the event and move forward to live an unshadowed life. With knowledgeable professional intervention, individuals who’ve self-medicated through various means, or adopted other self-destructive habits, can be helped to heal.
Never think you can’t move forward. Sometimes, though, the crutch is more destructive than the original injury. Left untreated and harbored in the darkest parts of your mind and memories, traumatic events will do you harm. Talk to a knowledgeable professional. Don’t give up on yourself.
