TRAUMA

This pandemic is going to leave an impression on every individual. If you are currently experiencing trauma due to being on the frontlines fighting COVID-19, or you or a loved one are suffering from the illness; maybe you are in the throws of grief from losing a loved one to the virus, or you are succumbing to the impact of social isolation.

Or maybe you are suffering in a more subtle way - you’re feeling suicidal because the isolation and social distancing is too much; you have simultaneously become a homeschool teacher while working from home & are simply burnt out; you are sheltered in place with toxic people; you are unable to access the healthcare you need; you are grieving the loss of your job/career/business/livelihood, your home, the celebration of a significant event, etc. - please reach out.

Help is available and hope is near.

If you feel like you simply can’t go on living, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 1-800-273-8255. You are valuable, precious and needed in this world even when you can’t feel any of it. The suffering will end, and we will get through this together - hold on.

Everyone has experienced some sort of traumatic event(s) during their lifetime. No matter how big or small, trauma has lasting effects on us which can carry over into our daily lives. It invades our entire being: mind, body, heart, soul and spirit. Two people can experience the same exact event, and one can be traumatized by it and the other one unscathed. There are no "right" or "wrong" responses when it comes to trauma, we are just all wired differently.

Many people who are carrying around unresolved trauma, aren't even consciously aware of the trauma. There are two types of trauma known as "Big T" and "little t." "Big T" traumas are events which the general public would consider traumatic such as: natural disasters, war combat, car accidents, witnessing the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one, sexual assault, near death experiences, etc. "Little t" traumas, on the other hand, are those that most people, including you, might not even acknowledge as traumatic. These can include events such as: relationship breakups, loss of a pet, divorce, moving, job loss, public humiliation, childhood bullying, etc. No matter what type of trauma is experienced, they can have similar and profound effects.

Trauma usually affects the areas of the brain that manage memory and emotions, which helps explain why oftentimes memories feel fuzzy and emotions feel overwhelming even after the direct trauma has ended. PTSD is the most common diagnosis related to experiencing trauma, and includes symptoms such as: sudden flashbacks, nightmares, frightening thoughts, hyperarousal, difficulty sleeping, anger outbursts, feeling tense or on edge, trouble remembering the event, negative thoughts, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, distorted feelings like guilt or blame, and avoiding thoughts, feelings, places, events, or objects related to the trauma. Not all people who experience trauma go on to develop PTSD however, and oftentimes unprocessed trauma is expressed in other forms, which are usually unrecognized as symptoms of trauma, such as: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, etc.