Understanding Trauma and Stressor-Related Challenges

Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Trauma affects many people, often in ways that are not immediately visible. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, before COVID, 70% of adults in the U.S. had experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives. Whether it stems from a single devastating event or a prolonged series of hardships, understanding trauma and its impacts is the first step toward healing and reclaiming one’s life. This article explores trauma, its symptoms, and effective treatments.

What Is Trauma?

The word "trauma" is frequently used in everyday conversation to describe overwhelming experiences. While this usage is valid, it’s important to recognize the varying degrees and types of trauma. According to the DSM-5, trauma involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence—whether directly, by witnessing it, learning that it happened to a loved one, or through repeated exposure to details of traumatic events. Trauma can result from experiences such as abuse, neglect, natural disasters, violence, accidents, or loss. Acknowledging the different ways trauma manifests is a powerful step toward validating your own experiences and seeking healing.

Types of Trauma

1. Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS)

• Symptoms: Intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, negative mood changes, and heightened arousal.

• Causes: Often triggered by a life-threatening event or severe emotional shock.

2. Acute Stress Response

• Symptoms: Similar to PTS but occurring within a month of the traumatic event, sometimes with dissociative symptoms such as feeling detached from reality.

• Causes: Immediate reaction to trauma.

3. Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)

• Symptoms: Emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, persistent negative self-concept, and dissociation.

• Causes: Often the result of prolonged or repeated trauma, such as childhood abuse or domestic violence.

Stressor-Related Challenges

1. Adjustment Challenges

• Symptoms: Emotional and behavioral struggles (such as depression, anxiety, or conduct issues) in response to a significant life change or stressor.

• Causes: Major transitions like divorce, job loss, or relocation.

2. Attachment and Relational Difficulties (RAD & DSED)

• Symptoms: RAD involves emotional withdrawal and difficulty forming attachments, while DSED is characterized by indiscriminate social interactions.

• Causes: Severe neglect or disrupted caregiving in early childhood.

3. Prolonged Grief

• Symptoms: Intense, persistent longing and preoccupation with the deceased, lasting beyond culturally accepted mourning periods.

• Causes: Loss of a loved one, especially when compounded by a lack of social support.

  
  

Treatment and Holistic Approaches to Trauma

Healing is not one-size-fits-all, and treatment for trauma varies depending on its severity and impact. At Create Perspective Counseling, we integrate both traditional and non-traditional therapeutic approaches tailored to your unique needs for effective and lasting relief. Our specialties include creative expressive arts, adventure therapy, and sandtray practices, which provide powerful ways to process trauma by engaging the whole brain and targeting the regions where emotions and trauma are stored. These approaches are particularly beneficial for those working through religious trauma, grief, or sexual trauma.

In addition to these holistic methods, we utilize evidence-based approaches such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and trauma-informed care to provide structured ways to process distressing experiences. No matter where you are in your healing journey, compassionate support and effective treatment options are available to help you move forward.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

Healing from trauma is a journey, not a destination. Understanding the different types of trauma and the wide range of available treatments empowers individuals to take control of their mental health, one step at a time.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by trauma or struggling with stressor-related challenges, you’re not alone. We offer free 15-minute consultations to explore how therapy can support your journey toward healing and relief.