Approximately 70% of adults will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. This event can occur in adolescence or adulthood, but it is essential to note that the age of occurrence does not impact the experience’s significance. Twenty percent of those adults will develop a trauma-related response or a mental health disorder directly resulting from these adverse events. Unfortunately, the memories and emotions that stem from the event can be debilitating. They can trigger substance abuse or distressing symptoms of a mental health disorder. However, many types of therapy can treat the painful symptoms of trauma-related disorders, and trauma therapy is such treatment that is highly successful in trauma treatment.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a common reaction to traumatic or stressful events. Someone diagnosed with PTSD may relive the traumatic experience through memories and dreams. Also, they may go out of their way to intentionally avoid reminders such as people and places serving as reminders of the trauma to prevent further emotional distress. Trauma therapy in Los Angeles is a form of talk therapy aimed at treating trauma’s emotional and mental health consequences. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop trauma-related symptoms. Some people may also develop symptoms that last for a few days and then resolve, whereas others may have more long-term effects. With treatment at a Los Angeles outpatient rehab, it is possible to address the root cause of the trauma and find constructive ways to manage symptoms.
As previously mentioned, the symptoms of trauma vary widely from person to person. Depending on the event and various other factors, the symptoms one may experience are as unique as the individual themselves. For some, they may experience a traumatic event and develop no symptoms at all. Others may struggle with life long, debilitating symptoms that require some level of mental health treatment. Someone who has experienced a traumatic event and continues to struggle with persistent or severe trauma symptoms should seek help from a mental health professional such as at an LA Partial hospitalization program where experts are trained in trauma-focused therapy. In many cases, even those with mild symptoms can find better ways to manage their emotions and triggers if they talk to someone about their experience.
The symptoms of trauma vary widely. They may range from mild to severe in intensity and affect all areas of the body both physically and psychologically. Many factors influence how individuals react to a traumatic event, including their unique characteristics, the presence of preexisting mental health conditions. Previous exposure to trauma and how they as an individual approach handling emotions. When exposed to a traumatic event, an individual may feel a host of emotions, including:
While this list is by no means exhaustive, these are some of the most common symptoms you may see or feel after experiencing trauma. Other common symptoms include nightmares or flashbacks, which makes sleep and day-to-day functioning difficult. Experiencing trauma can also lead to physical responses that occur separately from or in conjunction with emotional reactions. Physical symptoms can include headaches, digestive upset, increased heart rate, sweating, and fatigue. Some also report experiencing hyperarousal, which means they feel as though they are in a constant state of alertness again, making it difficult to sleep. Ongoing physical and emotional symptoms related to trauma sometimes result in developing other mental health issues, exacerbation of preexisting mental health issues, or the development of substance abuse problems.
Get in touch with Multi Concept Recovery today to learn more about how our program can help you find long-term healing from substance abuse & mental health.
Several treatment methods are used to help someone with trauma cope with their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Therapy is a first-line treatment for trauma. Ideally, you would work with a therapist who is trained in trauma-informed therapy or a trauma-focused therapist. As trauma therapy can be quite different from other types of mental health therapy, the individual providing treatment must understand how to address and talk through traumatic experiences adequately.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT is a treatment method designed to help people change their thought patterns to improve their behavior and emotions. CBT focuses on examining and altering negative thought patterns to improve how someone views an event, emotion, or situation.
EMDR therapy can be beneficial for anyone who has experienced traumatic event(s) or adverse life experiences continuing to cause emotional distress. EMDR therapy can be an effective treatment if you have experienced or are currently experiencing any of the following: anxiety, depression, trauma/adverse life experiences, substance abuse, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar disorder/mood instability or emotional disregulation, grief and loss and/or unhealthy attachments in relationships. Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy allows for reprocessing of traumatic or distressing experiences without having to discuss them in detail. EMDR therapy is an 8-phase protocol that provides the necessary steps to identify, activate, reprocess, stabilize and contain. Some of our memories are stored in an area of our brain (limbic system) that make it difficult to respond to our present experiences in healthy and adaptive ways. An example of this would be when we engage in fight-flight-freeze response. Through the reprocessing phases of EMDR therapy, we attempt and often successfully move these memories to the area of our brain (prefrontal cortex) where we are capable of making informed decisions of what to do next. Reprocessing past experiences can desensitize them in ways that reduce the distress they cause and the emotional suffering unintentionally created. Sometimes, adverse life experiences that we have encountered at various periods of our lives interfere with the way we experience our lives in both the present and the future. Identifying, exploring, and reprocessing these distressing experiences can have a profoundly positive effect on the way we feel, the way we perceive others around us, and engage in relationships. EMDR therapy often provides long-term relief from emotional distress.
The use of medications alone cannot cure or treat trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder. However, in conjunction with evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy, it can help manage symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. It is essential to talk to your mental health provider or your primary care provider about whether medications would benefit your treatment. Deciding to use medications as a treatment supplement will depend on your preexisting mental health, medical conditions, and any other medications you may currently take.
Self-care is an essential component of many evidence-based mental health treatment programs. Practicing self-care can help individuals with trauma cope with their emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms. Various self-care techniques, including exercise and mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation, can help mitigate some of the emotional and physical effects of trauma while helping to ground you in the present, thereby avoiding reliving the traumatic event from the past.
At Multi Concept Recovery we work directly with your insurance company to verify what benefits will cover your addiction treatment expenses. Most PPO policies provide coverage, including Anthem, Blue Shield, Health Net, Assurant, Cigna and more for Multi-Concept Recovery’s services. We are currently In-Network with Aetna, Multi-Plan, Beacon Health Options, and Anthem Blue Cross in order to better serve the community and those seeking assistance.
Suppose you experienced a traumatic event, and persistent or severe symptoms impact your daily life. In that case, it may be time to seek treatment at a rehab center in Burbank, California. While for many symptoms of trauma often resolve on their own, this does not happen for everyone. Ongoing emotional and physical symptoms related to trauma can result in significant impacts on your mental and physical health as well as relationships with your family, peers, and employer. If you or a loved one have experienced a traumatic event and have considered or vocalized thoughts of self-harm, you must seek help immediately.
Get in touch with Multi Concept Recovery today to learn more about how our program can help you find long-term healing from substance abuse & mental health.
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