TRAUMA is caused by unexpected stressful event / events when you lose security, become vulnerable and perceive dangerous world. As a result you may experience terrifying memories, irrational avoidance, anxiety, flash backs, sleepless nights and physiological symptoms. You develop a sense of constant danger, disconnection from people and inability to trust. Symptoms of trauma are nearly general immediately following very serious traumatic factors.

• Trauma might be a one-time event (witness or experience) or ongoing stress (traumatic childhood, harassment).

• Healthy recovery in some cases might take a few months under normal circumstances. Pain is a combination of physiological and psychological factors; physical pain is always accompanied by emotional trauma.

• Psychological factors play a crucial role in a course of cure and development of chronic pain. People with psychological problems are more at risk of expansion of physical pain and vice verse. People with pain more likely develop avoidance, chronic anxiety and depression.

• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops when you fail to “normally” recover.

• PTSD is a debilitating mental disorder that follows experiencing or witnessing an extremely traumatic, tragic, or terrifying event; people with PTSD have frightening memories and persistent thoughts, they feel emotionally numb.

• There are many individual examples of factors that block a smooth trauma recovery. Perhaps a man was taught as a child that emotions are bad, that “ men” don’t have feelings, and that he should “just get over it.” Someone may have refused to talk about what happened with anyone because she blames herself for “letting” the event happen and she is so shamed and humiliated that she is convinced that others will blame her, too. Or it might be a belief that she will be victimized again and she restricts her relationships. He might feel unworthy and experiences guilt of living (accident and war survivors).

The therapist determines what has interfered with normal recovery. Without reprocessing them, emotions related to trauma, injury and pain stay within the body.

The therapeutic relationship develops quickly with the treatment protocol when the therapist is using a cognitive approach that demonstrates to the client deep interest in understanding how the client thinks and feels. The therapist trains her clients in affect tolerance skills and coping skills.

Learning mindfulness and relaxation techniques stimulate the client’s growing realization that his feelings and thoughts are not actual information and that many strong emotional reactions are not real because they arise from the past. These techniques direct consciousness to the present experience, contributing to recovery and development of the client’s capacity to observe feelings and thoughts without getting stuck in them.

What contributes to trauma?

• Auto accident

• Chronic pain

• Sport and work injury

• Surgeries and falls

• Sudden disabling conditions

• Breakup of significant relationship

• Death of a close person

• Abusive and neglected childhood

• Life-threatening illness

• Humiliating experience

• Unstable and unsafe environment

• Separation, divorce, domestic violence