Part of recovery for the future is healing from the past
Trauma
Most women struggling with an addiction have experienced some form of trauma. Traumatic experiences, whether they are emotional, physical, sexual, or complex, impact the way in which our brains process information and informs how we respond to our environment. It is not uncommon for individuals who have experienced trauma to cope in unhealthy ways to alleviate some of the pain. We help women heal from trauma by providing a safe place for them to work through their pain and develop healthier ways to manage stress, anxiety, and other symptoms that come from traumatic experiences.
Individual Trauma Therapy
During individual therapy sessions, each patient will have the opportunity to work through any traumatic experiences from the past. During this time, the patient will be able to process their emotions, gain insight into their own symptoms, and learn new ways to gain resilience and manage stress related to trauma.
Emotional | Physical | Interpersonal
Trauma Symptoms
Intrusive Thoughts and Memories
- Unwanted and distressing thoughts and memories of the traumatic event
- Reliving traumatic experience, also known as "flashbacks"
- Unpleasant dreams and nightmares, sometimes about the traumatic event
- Severe emotional distress when triggered by something that reminds the individual of the traumatic event.
Avoidance
- Avoid talking about or thinking about the traumatic event
- Using drugs, alcohol, or an addictive behavior (e.g., self-harm, eating disorder, gambling, love or sex, etc.) to numb out and avoid feeling pain or emotions
- Avoiding people, places, activities, or things that remind the individual of the traumatic experience
Negative Thinking and Moods
- Negative thoughts about oneself, unpleasant beliefs about the world (e.g., "the world is a bad place", "I am a bad person", etc.)
- Hopelessness
- Memory problems, specifically around recalling details about the traumatic event
- Struggle to maintain healthy and close interpersonal relationships
- General lack of interest in hobbies or activities that were once fun
- Feelings of depression, anxiety, and a general sense of apathy
Physical and Emotional Reactivity
- Always in "reactive" mode. The individuals flight, fight, or freeze response is always on
- Self-destructive behavior
- Easily scared
- Extreme irritability
- Outbursts of anger, rage, or aggressive behavior
- Overwhelming feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness
Physical Symptoms of Trauma
Traumatic experiences not only impact our psychological and emotional well being, but also our physical health. Here are some ways in which trauma may impact your physical health:
- Frequent stomach aches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Headaches
- Racing heart
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Chronic pain
- Physical tension
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Chronic disease (usually related to chronic stress)
Recovery is possible!
Contact us today to learn more about our program.