1054-Demystifying Trauma Responses 12 Signs of PTSD You May Not Know

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

Trauma vs. Traumatic Injury

• Trauma is an event that causes a sense of helplessness and horror. Traumatic injury refers to the physical, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal effects of trauma.
• Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD or complex PTSD (CPTSD).

Symptoms Often Misdiagnosed

• Conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and addiction are often misdiagnosed when they are actually symptoms of unresolved trauma.
• Understanding the root cause of these conditions helps tailor treatment to address trauma.

Trauma in Childhood vs. Adulthood

• Childhood trauma, especially in chaotic or abusive households, can have lasting effects on attachment styles and emotional regulation in adulthood.
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, neglect, and abandonment significantly impact mental health.

Hypervigilance and Executive Dysfunction

• Trauma survivors are often hypervigilant, constantly scanning for threats, which can impair their ability to concentrate and problem-solve.
• This can mimic symptoms of ADHD, making it difficult to diagnose correctly.

Emotional Dysregulation and Anger

• Trauma often leads to emotional dysregulation, where individuals respond with exaggerated emotions or anger to minor stressors.
• This can be a learned response from childhood, where the fight-or-flight mechanism is over-activated.

Cognitive and Sensory Effects

• Trauma survivors may experience sensory hypersensitivity, such as being overly alert to sounds, smells, and visual triggers that remind them of past trauma.
• They may also struggle with recognizing and labeling emotions, making emotional regulation even more challenging.

Attachment Trauma and Relationship Issues

• Trauma, especially attachment trauma, can lead to avoidance or anxiety in relationships.
• Some survivors may withdraw from social situations, while others may be hypersensitive to rejection and constantly seek validation.

Impact on Physical Health

• Trauma affects the body's stress response system (HPA axis), leading to issues like inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders.
• Chronic stress also impairs the immune system, increasing the risk of various health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

Sleep Problems

• Trauma disrupts circadian rhythms, leading to insomnia or sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
• These sleep problems exacerbate mental health conditions, making recovery from trauma even more difficult.

Emotional Numbing and Depression

• Emotional numbing, apathy, and depression are common in trauma survivors, often making it difficult for them to experience joy or motivation.
• Chronic stress impairs the brain's ability to respond to pleasure and excitement, contributing to long-term mental health issues.

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