Hidden Signs You Might Be Struggling With Trauma, Especially For Men!
Have you experienced caregiver abuse, neglect, or abandonment? What about sexual assault or a car accident? Have you ever thought “I or my loved one might die right now?” Have you witnessed violence or abuse?
You might have a feeling that something from your past is affecting your present life. And you’d be right. 80% of what is going on in front of you is rooted in the past, while 20% is rooted in what is actually happening right now.
That’s probably a more complicated way to say that your past does affect you today. Even if you think “it wasn’t that big of a deal” or “I’ve gotten over it.”
The “big” signs that you are still affected by your trauma include:
Reliving the event. This can happen through flashbacks, nightmares, uncomfortable body sensations, or intrusive thoughts.
Avoidance. This can mean avoiding people, places, or activities that remind you of the event. This also can mean not wanting to talk about or think about the event or what happened after.
Negative changes in mood, thinking, and behavior. This can include changes in your mood, such as feeling sad, angry, or irritable; changes in your thinking, such as having trouble concentrating or remembering things; and changes in your behavior, such as isolating or engaging in self-destructive behaviors.
If you notice yourself in any of the above, keep reading to learn more about trauma recovery.
Maybe you don’t notice yourself in the “big” trauma signs. But, what about the following:
Physical symptoms: headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, sleep problems, changes in appetite, chronic pain
Emotional symptoms: anxiety, depression, anger, sadness, fear, guilt, shame
Behavioral symptoms: self-harm, substance abuse, risky behaviors, aggression, withdrawal
Relationship problems: difficulty trusting others, intimacy problems, codependency, difficulty maintaining relationships
Work problems: difficulty holding down a job, low self-esteem, poor work performance
Existential dread: loss of faith, questioning worthiness, feeling disconnected from others, feeling hopeless
Other sneaky ways that trauma might be affecting you:
You have trouble trusting people. If you were betrayed or hurt by someone you trusted as a child, it can be hard to let people in as an adult. You may be afraid of being hurt again, so you may keep people at a distance.
You have difficulty expressing your emotions. If you were taught to suppress your emotions as a child, you may have trouble expressing them as an adult. You may feel like you have to bottle up your feelings, or you may find it difficult to cry or express anger.
You have low self-esteem. If you were criticized or put down as a child, you may have low self-esteem as an adult. You may not believe in yourself or your abilities, and you may be hard on yourself.
You have anxiety, depression, and irritability. Childhood and other trauma can increase your risk of developing anxiety or depression. These mental health conditions can interfere with your daily life and make it difficult to cope.
You have physical health problems. Trauma can lead to physical health problems, such as chronic pain, tension, headaches, and digestive problems. These health problems can make it difficult to feel your best and enjoy life.
It makes sense. Dealing with the impact of childhood or recent trauma is hard. There’s no way around that. Here are possible reasons keeping you from getting help:
You may not have the words to describe what happened. When you experience trauma, you may not have the words to describe what happened. This can make it difficult to talk about it. EMDR, Brainspotting, and other trauma-processing therapies do not rely on talking in order to heal and recover.
You may feel ashamed or embarrassed. Many people who experience trauma feel ashamed or embarrassed about what happened to them. This can make it difficult to talk about your trauma and seek help.
You may have learned to cope with your trauma in unhealthy ways. If you experienced trauma, you may have learned to cope with it in unhealthy ways, such as self-harm, substance abuse, or risky behaviors. These coping mechanisms can make it difficult to address your trauma and heal.
You may be afraid of reliving the trauma. When you talk about your trauma, you may be afraid of reliving it. This can make it difficult to open up about your experiences. Trauma-informed therapy allows you to process trauma rather than relive it.
It is strong and powerful to address the pain and harm that trauma inflicts.
Whatever you have experienced, whether it was in childhood or more recently, PTSD and trauma-related distress is curable.
There is a path forward for you, no matter how long this stuff has been weighing you down.
Although it is hard, addressing your trauma, irritability, bad sleep, and low motivation is always worth it. Let’s look at a few more reasons to take a chance and begin trauma therapy:
Addressing your trauma can help you to feel better. Trauma can cause a wide range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, and difficulty trusting others. Addressing your trauma can help to reduce these symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
Addressing your trauma can help you to heal. Trauma can have a lasting impact on your life, but it is possible to heal from it. Addressing your trauma can help you to understand what happened, process your emotions, and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Addressing your trauma can help you to move on with your life. Trauma can hold you back from living your life to the fullest. Addressing your trauma can help you to integrate the past and start living in the present.
Addressing your trauma can help you to break the cycle of trauma. If you experienced trauma as a child, you are more likely to experience trauma as an adult. Addressing your trauma can help you to break the cycle and create a healthier future for yourself and your loved ones.
The most important reason to get therapy after a traumatic event is to heal. Trauma can have a profound impact on your life, both emotionally and physically. It can cause a range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, and difficulty trusting others.
Other benefits of quality trauma therapy include:
Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Therapy can help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression that are often associated with trauma.
Improve sleep. Therapy can help to improve sleep quality, which can be disrupted by trauma.
Increase self-esteem. Therapy can help to increase self-esteem, which can be low after a traumatic event.
Improve relationships. Therapy can help to improve relationships with family and friends, which can be strained after a traumatic event.
Reduce stress. Therapy can help to reduce stress levels, which can be high after a traumatic event.
Increase coping skills. Therapy can help to increase coping skills, which can help you to deal with the challenges of trauma.
Increase quality of life. Therapy can help to increase the quality of life, which can be low after a traumatic event.
