Ready for a Change?

Is depression or anxiety an ever-present part of your life? Have you tried talk therapy and other approaches, only to find yourself continuing to spin your wheels? Trauma could be holding you back. Not all forms of therapy are designed to address the lasting effects difficult experiences can leave behind, and in many cases, the wrong approach can cause even more harm. Changing Leads Counseling (CLC) is dedicated to helping alleviate mood and anxiety issues by tackling the root of these and many other mental health conditions.

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Mental health issues can have numerous causes, but many symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and poor mood, often stem from unresolved trauma. The connection might seem odd, but researchers are finding more and more evidence that trauma can manifest in multiple ways, affecting daily functioning and overall quality of life. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other organizations have researched the way trauma can affect both the brain and the body, and they found that trauma-informed therapy is often the most effective and sustainable approach for treating depression and anxiety.

Causes of Trauma

SAMHSA explains that there are numerous types of traumas that can affect a person's mental well-being. Common sources include:

• Natural disasters;
• Vehicle accidents;
• Military service;
• First responder work;
• Past physical or emotional abuse;
• Childhood neglect;
• Life-threatening event or illness;
• Sexual assault; and
• Robbery, mugging, or similar attack.

The repercussions of the inciting event often determine how an individual processes it, and the more resources a person has to cope with the tragedy or loss, the less likely they are to experience symptoms. The greater the devastation, and the more someone has to work to return to their normal routine, the more likely they are to suffer from the effects of trauma.

Perception also plays into the severity. If a person feels they’ve been hurt by an intentional act, for example, they are more apt to process the event as traumatic. And personal receptiveness plays a part as well, meaning that in response to a given situation, one person might easily move past the event, while another might experience intense and long-standing distress. When the latter occurs, it can trigger the development of anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and mood disorders.

Emotional Effects

These conditions can have serious effects on quality of life, functioning, social interactions, and overall well-being. Initial effects of trauma can include feelings of numbness, anxiety, guilt, anger, sadness, helplessness, disorientation, denial, and overwhelm. Survivors might feel like their lives have slipped out of control, or they may have a hard time feeling grounded in their bodies. Others might experience excitement over surviving their harrowing situations, or they may fall into denial or cut themselves off altogether from their emotions. They may find that they have a difficult time regulating their moods, which can present as irritability or aggression, and they may fear recurrence of the traumatic event. Sleep disturbances and/or nightmares may also occur. Early childhood trauma may affect development and alter brain chemistry, wiring the person to experience increased stress responses.

Some sufferers might resort to self-medication using unprescribed drugs/and or alcohol, which may lead to worsening of symptoms and even reduced ability to cope. Trauma can also alter the way a person views their world, leaving the sufferer jaded, feeling unsafe regardless of the situation, or even assuming that they have become damaged beyond repair. They may find circumstances where they have intense emotional reactions or outbursts and are unsure why, or they may suppress or alter certain memories as a coping mechanism. Some people experience existential crisis or fall into excessive use of prayer.

Changes in beliefs and/or life expectations resulting from a traumatic event can affect a person’s ability to seek education, form and keep meaningful relationships, hold a job, and otherwise navigate the world in positive and meaningful ways. They may also find that they have difficulties concentrating, suffer from flashbacks, have a difficult time making decisions, participate in avoidance behaviors, and are easily startled. Some people become self-destructive, intentionally harming themselves or even contemplating suicide.

Effects of Trauma on the Body

Research also indicates that trauma can trigger physical manifestations in sufferers, causing headaches, arthritis, and/or other forms of chronic illness or pain. One research group found a solid relationship between trauma and many cases of fibromyalgia. A recent study determined that a person’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score has a significant impact on their physical health as an adult. Higher scores (which indicate higher levels of trauma) were directly connected to higher instances of inflammatory disorders.

These effects often stem from childhood trauma, although adults can also develop symptoms from traumatic events that occur later in life. Bottom line is that chronic stress can affect the body on a physical level, opening the doors to chronic illness in people of all sexes and ages. Some of these physical conditions may remain chronic once they’ve been set off, but some sufferers may find that their symptoms become more manageable after their triggers have been addressed.

Healing Through Trauma-Informed Care

Because unaddressed trauma can have such profound physical and mental repercussions, trauma-informed therapy may help sufferers improve their outlook on multiple fronts. Just as important, this approach can also reduce the chances of therapy tearing open old wounds instead of helping to heal them. In many cases, treating a person’s underlying trauma can increase their chances of improving both their mental outlook and their physical health.

Trauma-informed therapy empowers sufferers through education, self-grounding, and validation. It teaches that a person’s reactions and responses to traumatic events are normal—and more importantly, that they can heal from their past. Therapists use several techniques to grow trust, address triggers, offer effective new skills, and help trauma survivors connect with their feelings, so they can regain their sense of self.

A multifaceted approach, one that implements mindfulness, breath work, and personal discovery alongside group therapy and peer support, creates an interactive therapeutic setting. It enables members to find a better sense of balance in daily life, develop plans to overcome shared obstacles, form new objectives, and create additional coping strategies together. The end goal is for survivors to clear away those dark clouds that have been hovering overhead, so they can once again feel hopeful about the future and find ways around the barriers that have been holding them back. With this added resilience and self-empowerment, trauma survivors have the tools to redefine their world and reclaim their lives.

Discover the Benefits of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of simply being present in the moment. It teaches us that rumination fixes the mind in the past, while anxiety forces us to live in the future. By grounding ourselves in the present moment, we make it more possible to let go of issues that might otherwise weigh us down and keep us from enjoying each day as it comes. CLC teaches numerous mindfulness techniques as part of its trauma program, empowering members by helping them find better balance in their approach to daily life.

Rediscover Your Inner Child

We all have parts of ourselves that we’ve either neglected, suppressed, or failed to adequately address. Through the use of exercises focusing on self-reflection, introspection, and your personal journey, you have the opportunity to revisit your life experiences and identify personal triggers in positive, productive new ways. Just as your personality is built upon your unique perceptions, experiences, and memories, your path to healing must take on those individual aspects, reframing old narratives. Through use of multiple techniques, we can help you recapture your inner child and discover the person you were always meant to be.

Just Breathe

Breathwork is another important area in trauma-informed healing. It teaches users that the way we breathe can be just as important on mood as the way we think. By employing new techniques designed to calm the body and alleviate stress, you can learn to face triggers—as well as other obstacles life might throw your way—with newfound strength and resilience.

Take Charge Today

Are you ready to take a new approach to healing your mental health? We’re here to help. Give us a call or send a message, and one of our staff members will get you in touch with a licensed therapist and support team to help you get started. Meaningful, lasting change is possible, but you need to take that first step before you can start moving forward. Isn’t it time you reclaimed your life?