Trauma Treatment
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. There are different kinds of trauma, some from war zones, some from street violence, accidents, and some from family abuse. The impact of trauma can affect a person’s mental health, relationships, and even physical well-being. It is important to recognize the signs of trauma symptoms and seek professional help when needed.
Early intervention and proper care can greatly reduce the long-term effects of trauma, leading to better overall health outcomes.
Developmental Trauma
Developmental Trauma is a term used to describe childhood trauma such as chronic abuse, neglect or other harsh adversity in their own homes. When a child is exposed to overwhelming stress and their caregiver does not help reduce this stress, or is the cause of the stress, the child may experience developmental trauma.
Many traumatized children are at risk for a host of complex emotional, cognitive and physical illnesses that may last throughout their lives. They may have unstable work histories as adults and struggle with finances, family, jobs, and depression throughout life—the effects of which can be passed on to their own children.
Common Symptoms Of Trauma
* Difficulty Concentrating
* Depression
* Anxiety
* Low Self Esteem
* Inability To Trust Others
* Drug Use
* Desire To Hurt Oneself Or Others
* Inability Or Unwillingness To Recall Trauma Details
* Difficulty Stopping Thoughts About The Trauma
* Emotional And Physical Numbing
* Recalling Physical Sensations That Occurred During Trauma
* Difficulty Staying Still Or Fidgeting
* Sleeping Routine Is Disturbed
* Rapid Changes In Mood
An easy to administer tool is available to help assess Developmental Trauma and identifies Adverse Childhood Experiences: The ACE test is used to measure an individual’s exposure to adverse events as a child in the home and how it impacts their mental and physical health now or in the future.
There is another tool that helps to diagnose PTSD. The PCL is a standardized self-report rating scale for PTSD comprising 17 items that correspond to the key symptoms of PTSD. The PCL-C is applied generally to any traumatic event.
