No matter the exact trauma someone has dealt with, they came out from the other side and are standing here today. The steps that have been taken to get to where they are today are extremely important and shouldn’t be dismissed. Anyone who deals with trauma should be extremely proud of themselves.
But trauma doesn’t always go away so easily. Many people think that they can move forward after a little bit of time. They think that time allows those wounds to heal. But the truth of the matter is, trauma doesn’t just go away on its own, even with time.
After a trauma, someone could experience lingering aftereffects for weeks, months, or even years after the trauma occurred. No matter what they seem to do, they can’t shake these feelings, memories, or associations to that trauma that they’re trying to move on from.
Let’s learn more about how trauma can affect your body.
The Physical Effects
Trauma can harm someone’s physical body, even after the trauma occurs. These are some of the most common physical effects of trauma on the body:
- Aches and pains
- Changes in eating habits
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Dizziness
- Exhaustion
- Headaches
- Memory issues
- Shaking or trembling
- Sweating
The Emotional Effects
Trauma can bring on a lot of different emotions. It can feel like a rollercoaster with all of the different emotions tied to memories that you may not realize you have. These are some of the most common emotions that people endure after experiencing a traumatic event:
- Anger
- Confusion
- Grief
- Hypervigilance
- Irritability
- Lack of awareness towards one’s own wants and needs
- Negative sense of self
- Numbness
- Panic
- Restlessness
- Shame
The Experiences
Experiences are often associated with positive life events, but in the instance of trauma, that isn’t usually the case. There are a lot of life changes and an unfortunate new normal that someone who experiences trauma may have to deal with. These are just a few of the most common types of experiences that someone processing trauma may endure:
Dissociation
Dissociation can happen with trauma due to not wanting to remember the trauma that occurred. In many instances, people will feel detached from their own bodies or numb. This is the body and brain’s way of trying to deal with the trauma and added stress that it endured.
Flashbacks, Panic Attacks, and Nightmares
When the body tries to defend itself against trauma, the body and brain may be thrown out of whack and not return to a state of normalcy. This means that the defense response is heightened. One of the ways the body responds to perceived threats is by panic attacks. Since the body and brain don’t register that the trauma is over, panic attacks may happen every so often after a traumatic event occurs. Difficulty sleeping due to nightmares and flashbacks can be just as common.
Substance Use and Abuse
When someone goes through a traumatic event, they don’t always know how to process all of those emotions, thoughts, and feelings. A lot of people turn to negative coping mechanisms like alcohol or drug use. While this may act as a short-term solution or temporary fix, it can actually lead to worsening signs and symptoms.
Always Alert and Feeling Unsafe
When we’ve gone through trauma, our body is on high alert to protect us from anything like that happening again. It can cause us to feel stuck in a state of hypervigilance – always keeping an eye out for the next danger. While this can be helpful, it also can be near impossible to shut off in situations where we are actually safe and would love to relax.
Next Steps
Although it may feel like it right now, you’re not alone if you’re trying to process a trauma from your past. You are not defined by your trauma. One of the best ways to overcome it and move forward in your life again is to seek additional support. A good trauma therapist will be able to work with you to help you move in the right direction. Reach out today to set up a consultation.