The term trauma originates from the Greek word for wound. The first records of trauma date back to 1685, and it’s now a well-understood psychological phenomenon. According to the National Council for Mental Well-Being, 70% of people have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives. Other statistics show that 6% of the U.S. population suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Outpatient trauma therapy can help these individuals cope with the challenges they’re dealing with.

Trauma is something that can affect people from all walks of life and shape a person’s outlook on life. To understand how to treat trauma, it’s important to first consider what it is and where it comes from.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is an emotional reaction to a violent or unpleasant event. Shock and denial are common reactions that can occur right after a traumatic incident. Unpredictable emotions, flashback memories, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea are all long-term effects.

While these emotions are common, some people find it difficult to move forward in their lives or develop post-traumatic stress disorder. People with PTSD suffer from flashbacks and nightmares and often seek to avoid anything that might trigger a memory of the traumatic event. They’re often hypervigilant of danger and may find it difficult to function normally.

Common Causes of Trauma

Trauma can occur for many reasons, including:

• Grief or other personal loss
• Bullying
• Physical, emotional or sexual abuse
• Growing up in an unsafe environment
• War
• Witnessing violence
• Being involved in an accident
• Cultural, racial or intergenerational trauma

Contrary to popular belief, not all trauma is caused by single, extreme events. Prolonged stress or repeated exposure to minor incidents can also cause a trauma response.

Treating Trauma With Outpatient Trauma Therapy

Because trauma is a fairly well-understood mental disorder, many treatment options are available. In many cases, people can opt for outpatient trauma therapy, enabling them to keep up with work or family obligations as much as they’re able to while they work through the treatment process. Trauma treatment isn’t always the same for every person, however, and a good therapist will be able to provide personalized advice about treatment options.

Diagnosis and Medical Integration

The first step to receiving treatment for trauma is to seek a diagnosis. Usually, a professional will examine you to try to understand the root and nature of your trauma. It’s important to also undergo a medical examination to ensure your symptoms aren’t the result of some other underlying health issue.

Once other ailments have been ruled out and you’ve been diagnosed, you can start treatment for emotional trauma.

Psychopharmaceutical Treatment

Psychopharmacology is the field of using medicine to treat mental disorders. Our moods, emotions and mental states often change in parallel with some chemical changes in our brains. Medical intervention that can help stabilize the brain’s chemistry is an effective way of regulating the negative emotions or anxiety associated with trauma.

Antidepressants, antianxiety and antipsychotic medications are all used in the medical treatment of trauma. These treatments are usually provided in combination with psychotherapeutic treatments.

Psychotherapeutic Treatment

Psychotherapy or talk therapy for trauma aims at resolving the trauma through psychological means. PTSD intensive outpatient programs usually involve sessions with a trained therapist to help patients understand and resolve their trauma. A PTSD IOP may involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or exposure-based therapies.

There’s some evidence for using therapy as part of a trauma IOP, and when used in conjunction with pharmaceutical treatments, support groups and ongoing talk therapies, it can produce lasting results.

Holistic Treatment Options

Holistic treatment aims to treat people as naturally and thoroughly as possible. The idea of holistic treatment is to treat not just the narrow issue at hand but the entire person, alleviating the symptoms while working on treating the underlying psychological aspects of the trauma.

Some holistic emotional trauma treatments include:

• Yoga. The practice of yoga uses a combination of meditation practices, physical postures and breathing exercises to promote well-being and good mental health.
• Acupuncture. This involves penetrating the skin with tiny needles to release tension from pressure points, resulting in relaxation and better circulation.
• Mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness can be roughly defined as having “an objective and nonreactive awareness of the present moment.” The practice has been successfully used in the treatment and relief of many psychological disorders, including trauma.
• Relaxation therapy. This is a type of meditation training that focuses on relaxing the body and mind.
• Natural products. Aromatherapy, essential oils and supplements can have a calming effect on some individuals.

These treatment options can be beneficial for people who don’t feel comfortable with more traditional therapy and want an outlet for anxiety or stress.

Having a Support Group

Having social support is extremely important for well-being and can be particularly significant for people recovering from trauma. If your trauma is the result of some form of traumatic event, being able to speak with others who’ve experienced similar issues can be extremely relieving and encouraging. Support groups managed by a skilled facilitator can provide a safe environment for this to happen.

Living With the Diagnosis

Sometimes, finding out you have unresolved trauma or PTSD can itself be harrowing. Some people might feel there’s something wrong with them, resulting in feelings of isolation, affliction or incapacity. It’s important to let your diagnosis be a positive rather than a negative, and learning to deal with it can be a big part of recovery. Once you accept the diagnosis, you can work on the path to recovery.

Get Emotional Trauma Treatment and Live Life Fully

Whether you’ve experienced a recent traumatic event or feel you have unresolved issues from childhood, don’t let your trauma dictate your life. Luckily, there’s a wide range of emotional trauma treatment options you can explore. Talk to a professional and start to investigate the nature of your trauma.

Trauma is common and can happen to anybody. There’s no shame in seeking help or psychological trauma treatment. With support in the form of psychotherapy, medical help, holistic therapy or a combination of those approaches, you can overcome trauma and start living life to the fullest.

Restore Mental Health offers a range of inpatient and outpatient trauma therapy services. Contact us today; we’re available 24-7 to take your call.