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Trauma is a universal experience that touches lives regardless of the circumstances. Remember, it's not what's wrong with you, but what happened to you. Healing and recovery are achievable; you're not alone on this journey. At Amy Kayda Therapy, we offer support for all ages, including children, navigating healing from trauma. Our sessions provide a safe space for you to share, heal, and regain control of your life.
what is trauma?
Trauma, an emotional response to a distressing event, can significantly impact one's life, leaving a lasting imprint on mental, physical, and emotional health. It can lead to feelings of helplessness, prolonged fear, and a sense of disconnection from the world—disrupting everyday functioning, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Acute trauma results from a single distressing event, while chronic trauma involves repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful experiences. Complex trauma refers to multiple traumatic events, often invasive and interpersonal, causing long-term effects. Developmental trauma occurs during childhood, potentially leading to significant impacts on the child's development and adult life. Lastly, secondary or vicarious trauma arises in individuals when they engage empathetically with a trauma survivor's experiences. Each type requires specific therapeutic approaches for healing and recovery.
However, it's crucial to know that you're not alone, and it's okay to seek help. Therapy is available and can be a powerful journey towards healing and recovery. I work diligently to foster a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment for all clients. As a therapist, I am committed to guiding you through your journey, helping you navigate the complexities of trauma and empowering you to reclaim control over your life.
Common symptoms of trauma include:
Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event.
Chronic feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or tension.
Emotional numbness or disconnection from others.
Difficulty sleeping or nightmares related to the trauma.
Changes in mood, such as increased irritability or sadness.
Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or unexplained aches.
Avoidance of places, people, or activities that remind of the traumatic event.
Heightened reactions to sudden noises or movements (hypervigilance).
Difficulty concentrating or remembering things.
Feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame related to the traumatic event.
What does therapy and treatment for trauma look like?
The primary goal of therapy for individuals who have experienced trauma is to help them regain control of their lives. Therapy aims to equip these individuals with the tools to manage symptoms, process the traumatic event, and move towards healing. It seeks to alleviate distressing symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts, while also addressing associated feelings of guilt, anger, or shame. A key component of therapy for trauma is to help individuals build resilience and develop better coping mechanisms for stress.
Furthermore, therapy often involves efforts to restore self-esteem and rebuild relationships that may have been affected by the trauma. Ultimately, the objective is to enable individuals to constructively integrate their traumatic experiences into their lives, reducing its impact and promoting a healthier, more hopeful outlook towards the future.
how to help your child struggling with trauma
Trauma in children can manifest in various ways, often different from adults. Children may exhibit changes in behavior such as sudden aggression, withdrawal, or unexplained fearfulness. They may struggle with nightmares or flashbacks, have difficulty concentrating, or show changes in academic performance. Some might regress to earlier developmental stages, such as bedwetting or thumb-sucking. As a parent, recognizing these signs and responding appropriately is key. As a therapist, I am committed to empowering parents with the tools and understanding needed to support their child's recovery from trauma. I provide guidance on nurturing open communication, creating a safe environment, and helping your child cope with their feelings. Through collaboration, we can help your child process their traumatic experience and move towards healing, ensuring they are not defined by their trauma, but instead, can grow and thrive beyond it.
trauma in those struggling with eating disorders
Trauma and eating disorders can intersect in many complex ways. Those grappling with a history of trauma may develop an eating disorder as a coping mechanism, an attempt to exert control in response to feelings of helplessness or chaos. As such, signs of trauma can manifest as disordered eating patterns, obsessive food thoughts, and extreme body dissatisfaction. Conversely, the strain and stigma of an eating disorder can also be a source of traumatic stress. Therefore, it is vital to treat both issues concurrently. Unaddressed trauma can perpetuate disordered eating behaviors, while untreated eating disorders can reinforce traumatic stress responses, creating a challenging cycle to break. In therapy, the goal is to address the roots of the trauma and its interplay with the eating disorder, fostering coping mechanisms that are healthy and constructive. At Amy Kayda Therapy, I recognize the complexities of this intertwining relationship, and aim to provide a holistic approach to treatment that addresses both trauma and the eating disorder together.
Get in touch.
Begin your journey towards healing from trauma today. Book a 15-minute call with Amy Kayda Therapy. Together, we can build resilience, process your experiences, and help you regain control of your life.