Demystifying trauma

Symptoms:

• Unpredictable emotions (sudden anger or sadness)

• Insomnia

• Hyperarousal (anxiety, can’t seem to relax)

• Change in diet

• Difficulty concentrating

• Withdrawal form day to day activities

• OCD (intrusive thoughts i.e “what if I pushed this woman in front of a train”)

• Low self esteem (deep down you don’t think highly of yourself and may try to compensate)

• Drinking too much or using drugs more so than you’d like

• Sense of guilt

• Difficulty maintaining friendships, relationships or jobs

• Difficulty trusting people

• Issues with your sex life

• Difficulty coping with change

• Lack of general self care

• Sense of hopelessness (in some cases feeling suicidal)

Events:

• Divorce

• The death of someone you were close to

• Serious illness

• Parental neglect, manipulation or abuse

• Bullying

• War, terrorism or natural disaster

• Sexual, physical or emotional abuse

• Moving to a new location

• Witnessed something scarring like an argument, accident etc.

Big vs Small

It’s really important to understand that there is no such thing as bigger or smaller trauma, you should avoid comparing the gravity of your trauma. You are entitled to every feeling you have ever felt. The important bit is how it affected you in the moment and how it affects you and others around you now. I want to encourage people to see trauma as a normal yet unfortunate human affliction that can be managed and transformed into a powerful force of good.