Even if someone does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, trauma can cause lasting effects that limit an individual’s life. It can cause negative emotions, difficulty trusting others, nightmares and many other problems. Given that many people are dealing with traumatic experiences, what do we know about trauma treatment?
Specialized therapy – Somatic Experiencing
The first approach to treating trauma is therapy, but not all types of therapy are equally good. It has been found that not all people benefit from traditional “talk” therapy, which requires them to talk about what happened. Sometimes this can have unwanted side effects.
Instead, body-oriented therapies such as Somatic Experiencing are more effective for dealing with trauma. These are specialized approaches that help a person process the trauma and reduce intense emotions, memories, or dreams associated with the difficult experience.
Specialized therapies often focus on the physical aspects of the trauma and are body-oriented or focus on eye and body movements, which have been shown to help reprocess the trauma.
Coping Skills
A large part of trauma treatment is aimed at helping the person develop healthy coping strategies and avoid maladaptive strategies. Many people cope with trauma using strategies that help them feel better in the moment, but are harmful in the short or long term. For example, it is important to avoid the use of psychoactive substances, which are often a way to reduce negative symptoms, relax and cope with anxiety-provoking situations after a traumatic event, but rather to allow emotions to express themselves.
Healthy coping skills include avoiding situations close to the traumatic event, as this creates an unhealthy cycle that gradually increases the person’s withdrawal and limits their life. Instead, healthy coping strategies can include talking to others, managing and monitoring emotions, learning different techniques for expressing emotions and reducing anxiety, seeking out any resources that can help the person work through the trauma, and expressing feelings and emotions on a physical level. Somatic Experiencing Therapy offers the client the opportunity to work through the trauma step by step in a safe environment, thus working through it in the long term.
Trauma and Recovery – Maintaining a Routine
An important element of working with trauma is helping the person return to a normal life. Often, the reaction is withdrawal from socializing and difficulty following a normal routine. It is important to allow the person to transition to a lifestyle that suits them and that does not limit their goals and daily life.
It is also helpful to incorporate healthy habits into this routine, such as exercise, meditation, support groups, or any other practices that help the person and have a positive impact on their life.
In general, trauma treatment involves a holistic approach that understands the specifics of what trauma is and how it affects the person in all areas of their life.
*Key words: trauma, trauma and recovery, trauma treatment, PTSD, somatic experiencing
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