Trauma

Trauma is an emotional injury which can be caused by shocking information, life gone seriously wrong, violence, tragic loss, or prolonged stress, usually experienced as unbearable. The effects of trauma are generally long-lasting, producing painful memories that won’t go away or, alternatively, “repressed” memories that remain buried, causing painful feelings and erratic behavior that seem to lack explanation. Even when the conscious mind “forgets” what happened to produce the traumatic response, the unconscious mind retains the perceived insult and the body registers its impact, leading in some cases to physical illness.

The traumatic response can include nightmares, “flashback” memories, feelings of impending doom, depression, emotional numbness, unexplained fears, insomnia, and feelings of illness and/or exhaustion. Treatment begins with a professional assessment by a psychotherapist, followed by a treatment plan agreed to by the client. Proceeding slowly, to keep the client feeling safe at all times, is especially important when there is a history of trauma.

If you have experienced a traumatic event or are experiencing any of the characteristics of a traumatic response, call Samantha (508-207-7149) to set up an introductory appointment. Then you can decide where to go from there.