Overcoming The Consequences Of Psychological Trauma Together

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

In today's world, many of us have been exposed to traumatic factors. Traumatic factors can be the trauma of hostilities that are common today or the trauma of physical violence. It is worth noting that most of the trauma in our life we receive while in a potentially harmless environment. According to some estimates, the number of victims of domestic violence in the United States is more than 50% of the total number of victims of violence. Things like breaking up a relationship, losing a loved one, shattered dreams and loss of health can carry a very high level of trauma, and sometimes so-called personal disability. Hereinafter, mentioning the word trauma, we will discuss one of its most common consequences, namely post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

When we are in a field of high trauma, we need to understand what trauma is and how to deal with it so as not to experience discomfort in life.

Any traumatic event in terms of influence on us, it has something in common, namely, distortions of our perception of the surrounding reality, thoughts about ourselves and our future. This leads to a change in our thinking, behavior and, as a consequence, our entire way of life. In this case, the most likely outcome in human behavior is the development of defensive behavior aimed at avoiding any reminders of the traumatic situation. People who have faced the consequences of psychological trauma note that the consequences can be so ingrained in us that sometimes they become a predominant part of our consciousness and make us addicted to trauma.

Today in the world there are many interpretations of ways to cure psychological trauma … The first and second world wars and the high level of domestic violence in our days served as a powerful impetus in the study of this topic. As a result of large-scale studies, common patterns have been identified in different approaches to trauma therapy.

First, it is worth paying attention to the criteria by which it is diagnosed PTSD … The main diagnostic criteria for PTSD include:

• Recurring memories of a traumatic event, accompanied by an increased sense of stress.
• Flashbacks. Suddenly popping up memories in traumatic-like conditions out of our control. It looks like we are in a traumatic situation again.
• Nightmares, lack of sleep, restless sleep.
• Strong emotionality when reminded of a traumatic event.
• Strong physical (physiological) reactions when recalling a traumatic event in memory.

It is important to know that people who are able to PTSDtend to be depressed and use drugs and alcohol to suppress symptoms PTSDthat give them great discomfort.

Once diagnosed, most specialists identify three key stages in injury recovery.

Safe relationship

In my opinion, the most effective method of overcoming trauma is working with a specialist psychologist who has a clear understanding of the methods of restoring a person's mental health. Along with this, the support of relatives and friends, significant people in the life of an injured person is very important. Having an understanding of the situation and the person's condition on the part of other people is a very powerful stimulating factor for recovery. At this stage, it is important to create a trusting relationship between the client-psychotherapist. At the same time, at the beginning of therapy, the relatives of the injured person should be involved to conduct explanatory work and explain to them the importance of correct and timely support for their loved one.

Human relationships are a key parameter in PTSD therapy. It is people who are able to heal what other people have damaged. Warmth, caring and understanding heal and bring welcome relief.

Memories and experiences of trauma

After stabilization of the state, we proceed to the second stage of therapy. At this stage of healing, it is important to remember in the smallest detail the traumatic situation and to relive it with the support of the therapist, with the subsequent correction of our conclusions about what happened to them and how it affected us. It is very important to fully immerse yourself in a traumatic situation with the recreation of the emotions that accompanied the person in it. The presence of emotions will indicate the completeness of re-experiencing and, as a consequence, the processing of these memories. It is important for us that a person, remembering this event over and over again in the presence of the therapist, could learn to look at the traumatic situation in a new way.

A new look is being formed to close this event. We strive to close the door to a traumatic situation that worries us. This is how we gain control of this "traumatic" room. It is by holding the key in our hands, and realizing that behind the closed door is what we are able to control, we achieve stabilization and healing. In practice, this metaphor takes on the form of a letter written by a person or a painted picture, in which he describes everything that happened to him with a new awareness that now everything is wrong, now he is safe, now he is able to leave all this heavy burden and go with ease further. Together, the therapist and the client write this letter, listen to it, see it, discuss it.

This kind of mourning for the grief that has happened helps to leave it in the past and opens the way to the future. The situation ends. A letter containing a history of trauma can be burned, thereby symbolizing liberation from everything that tormented us so much. This whole process has its own structure and is subject to certain rules, which is why it is so important to carry it out with a specialist.

Restoring connections

Nothing goes unnoticed. The consequences of having PTSD can be dire. Social maladjustment and withdrawal from the usual way of life, impaired physical health and social ties, a feeling of insecurity - all this can be a consequence of the trauma suffered.

At the last stage of healing, a person learns to enter the world in a new way, already with the understanding that he is not the same as he once was, that both the world and the person have changed.

The desire of a person to restore previous conditions and reach a new level will be an excellent motivation for him, and the help of a psychotherapist in a smooth and timely entry into society will be overvalued. At this stage, it is possible to form groups of people with past PTSD for greater support from people who understand the situation. Several studies show that the group format of the last stage of therapy is extremely effective. In a group, a person receives the necessary level of support and understanding, difficulties are overcome more easily, and most importantly, it is in the group that the formation of new social ties and the development of new social skills is possible.

It should be noted that we can process the trauma and learn to live with it in a new way, we can become stronger and wiser, but the trauma will always be with us. The goal of good psychotherapy is to show the traumatized person what happened to him, to understand that it’s over and to let it go, and remember that this is just a part of our past, which should not affect our future.