One thing that I have encountered quite often in a therapeutic setting is the vast majority of those I have worked with don’t resonate with the word “trauma”. It’s a clinical buzzword, we therapists use to describe what we believe our clients have experienced. We talk about doing “trauma work”, and those that I work with don’t even believe they have any trauma.
You might not think you have trauma.
Trauma feels like a hefty word and what my clients believe they have gone through doesn’t seem to be “all that bad”. I have heard this countless times in therapy sessions. My clients tend to minimize their negative experiences because it’s not the trauma in the war films they see. They aren’t t having PTSD symptoms like combat veterans are portrayed to have so thus their experience is invalid, and there is no need for us clinicians to be so over the top and call it trauma.
I will give them the credit that maybe they’re right, we should stop throwing down the word “trauma” so much. If it doesn’t feel right to you to describe your experiences then that’s ok. It’s not my job to give you a label that you don’t think fits for you. However, it is my job to challenge some of the minimizing of your experiences you are doing. I also want you to understand what trauma actually is.
Symptoms of PTSD
Trauma isn’t only about having PTSD symptoms. Trauma isn’t only for those that have served in the military or have been in combat. Sadly, it’s something anyone can experience. I think of trauma as some negative experience or memory that is still painful, difficult to remember, and still impacts your functioning in some way. These negative memories or experiences can cause:
Anxiety
Difficulty concentrating
Depression
Sleep disturbance
Nightmares
Easily Startled
Trouble remembering
Negative thoughts
Less interested in things you once were
Avoiding thoughts, feelings or situations that may be associated with the memory
And the list goes on.
Common experiences that can be classified as traumatic
The negative experiences those I have worked with that still impact them and interfere with their functioning to some degree are:
Bullying
Loss of a loved one
Unwanted sexual experiences
Being mistreated by adults or peers
Neglect
Poor relationships with friends, family or romantic partners
Divorce
illness
Moving
Physical pain or injury
Legal/criminal experiences
Again the list goes on.
How trauma may be affecting you
As a result of trauma, those that I work with use some of the following behaviors:
Binge
Emotionally eat
Restrict
People-please
Use perfectionistic behaviors
Look for control in their lives
Feel guilty
Find other ways to numb their emotions
Those I work with often can’t figure out why they do these things that seem to cause more problems than good. My clients don’t recognize how these negative experiences and memories are actually significant. They matter. They are valid. They deserve help. You may have become a champion at numbing your needs and putting others first. You may focus all of your energy on helping other people with their struggles. You may be doing well in school and performing better than average at work. Seems like these are the things that you have thrown yourself into rather than focusing your energy on those painful and sad experiences.
Trauma Therapy can help.
Most of the time, by the time my client makes it to me, they have already tried a lot of things on their own. They just can’t figure out what’s wrong with them and why things aren’t going how they want them to. I believe that what underlies what they are coming to therapy for are the negative things that have happened to them. It’s not to say that every negative thing that has happened to them is still impacting you, but maybe some things need to be worked through. Trauma therapy can help you make peace with these experiences so that they aren’t as stressful to you anymore.
Trauma or negative experiences, whatever you best identify with, haven’t been properly stored in our brains. I think of these memories or experiences as file folders in our brains floating around outside their filing cabinets with nowhere to go. Our brain works really hard to try and figure out where they belong and where they should be stored and that’s generally what is happening when we are experiencing symptoms like flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and nightmares. Our brains are just trying to sort out what happened.
PTSD treatment can help you feel better.
The good news is that therapy can help. There is a specific model of therapy that I love because it delivers fast and powerful results known as EMDR. EMDR helps with traumatic events and helps you work through it. Therapy can help get your brain to put those files in the filing cabinets that they belong. Therapy can decrease your anxiety, help you avoid so much, and make the memories stop hurting.
More than anything, I want you to know that there is a way out despite the likely feeling that you are to blame somehow for what happened to you. There is a way to feel better. I want you to know that so so badly. My clients show up and have difficulty thinking they deserve to get better because they must have brought it on themselves somehow. It will take work, and it’s going to be uncomfortable, and it’s gonna suck to some degree, but these experiences and memories don’t have to bug you forever. If you are ready for therapy and moving forward, I’m willing to help!
Ready to begin trauma therapy in Utah?
You don’t have to feel stuck in your past. Trauma therapy can help you move forward. This Utah County counseling practice has a trauma therapist specializing in trauma therapy. To begin trauma therapy, follow these steps:
Meet with a PTSD Therapist
Begin healing from trauma
Online Therapy in Utah
For many people suffering from PTSD and trauma, it’s hard to imagine being that vulnerable with a stranger. I know no matter what, it’s a risk to take. I have found that people who have experienced trauma need to feel even safer working through their trauma. One way that helps some people is to be able to do it in the comfort and safety of their homes. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah.
Online counseling allows me to work with clients in Logan, St. George, Cedar City, Heber, Salt Lake City, and more.
Other mental health services in Utah County
Trauma therapy isn’t the only mental health service I provide at this Northern Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided at Maple Canyon Therapy include: anxiety therapy, body image therapy, eating disorder treatment, and binge eating disorder treatment in Utah.
About the Author
Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy near Provo, Utah. Ashlee has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. She obtained her Masters in Social Work from Utah State University. Ashlee utilizes EMDR therapy in PTSD treatment to help women find relief from their traumatic experiences. She is passionate about women being able not to be haunted by their trauma forever. Ashlee specializes in birth trauma and cares deeply about helping women find peace from this experience. When Ashlee isn’t doing therapy, she enjoys walking her Goldendoodles on the Provo River Parkway.