Trauma & PTSD
Along life’s journey sometimes an individual faces some painful events. These events could replay in the mind causing sadness or anxiety. And this could occasionally lead to use of drug, alcohol or other behaviors. This could be an important sign that an individually is suffering from trauma and addiction. Majority of people who pursue treatment for addiction have also experienced trauma at some point or the other in their life.
The Arya Hospital Neuropsychiatry & Trauma Centre cares for individuals and have specialized inpatient programs for co-treating trauma and addiction. It is essential that an individual seeks help so that it does not spur any trauma or addiction which would increase the chances of relapse.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder. It usually occurs when an individual experiences or witnesses a very troublesome event which causes one to feel insecure and helpless. The intensity of the circumstance overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope and process the event. Subsequently, the memory is near the outward of your thoughts and the following symptoms can occur:
- Recurrences and nightmares
- Feeling wobbly or nauseous when recapped of the event
- Evading people, places or event for the fear of being repeated of the trauma
- Hyper-vigilance
- Feeling disconnected from self and others
- Difficult in concentration and sleeping
- Emotional outburst
- Irresponsible or self-destructive behavior
- Protracted distress when faced with a triggers
Trauma is divided into three main categories. And the severity of the symptoms define the type of trauma. ‘Big T’ Trauma or Shock Trauma.
Shock trauma is mostly caused by severely stressful event that can also include physical abuse. It may be experienced either directly or indirectly and these incidences are frequently acts of violence which can be both physical and sexual. Shock trauma results from a significant amount unwanted or unexpected loss.
Small trauma typically results from equally common but upsetting life events. On the above, these events may not seem significant but the emotional impact is what makes it traumatic. When other people in life let go the importance of the event, this complexes the trauma.
A known saying about ‘small t’ trauma is “objects in the mirror are closer than they appear”. It is similar to ‘complex trauma’ where it appears to be of less importance to an outsider than for the individual who has experienced it.
Few examples of ‘small t’ trauma are:
- Being harassed at school or work
- Divorce of parents
- Divorce of parents
- Losing a job
- Being the last one to be picked in a team
- Living in poverty
- Changing schools
- Being threatened
- Death of a pet
- Loss of friends
- Disorder of learning
- Being ignored