I provide in-person services in Roseville, CA & available online to surrounding communities throughout California (Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln, Folsom & Sacramento).
Throughout the course of our years, we all experience a loss or traumatic event at some point in our lives. Experiencing grief, loss and trauma are not always associated with death, however, but commonly surface after a loss or crisis of some kind – whether it is the loss of a loved one, a severed relationship, a pregnancy, a pet, or a job. Trauma can occur following a crisis or a life-threatening event such as a serious health condition or injury, automobile accident, being victimized by or witnessing a crime and sudden loss of a loved one from suicide. Individuals in abusive relationships and survivors of intimate partner violence, stalking or harassment may find themselves experiencing symptoms of trauma:
Intrusive memories
Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:
- Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
- Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
- Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
- Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event
Avoidance
Symptoms of avoidance may include:
- Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
- Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:
- Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
- Hopelessness about the future
- Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Feeling detached from family and friends
- Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Feeling emotionally numb
Changes in physical and emotional reactions
Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Always being on guard for danger
- Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior
- Overwhelming guilt or shame
When a person loses something or someone valuable to them, feelings of grief can be overbearing. Grief can leave a person feeling sad, hopeless, isolated, irritable, and numb by affecting them mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s important to understand that healing from grief is a process and everyone copes with this emotion differently.
Many people don’t know what to say or do when a person is grieving or suffering from trauma, but be sure to have patience with the individual (including yourself) throughout the entire process.
An alternative treatment method includes psychotherapy. Through psychotherapy, a client may:
- Improve self-care &coping skills
- Reduce feelings of blame and guilt
- Explore and process emotions
- Reduce intensity & frequency of distressing symptoms
Consider seeking professional support if feelings of grief or symptoms of trauma worsen or do not ease over time.
