Counselling for Trauma and PTSD

Childhood trauma impacts the development of children and teens. Countless studies have shown that childhood abuse, neglect and/or exposure to domestic violence can lead to negative life-long outcomes. Individuals who have grown up around or have directly experienced domestic abuse may develop mental health issues. Trust issues, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, low self esteem and OCD are among the concerns people experience.

Developmental trauma is a largely overlooked consequence of long term, repeated childhood neglect, parental inconsistency, verbal abuse, emotional abandonment or manipulation. Adults who suffered from developmental trauma may go on to develop Complex PTSD, which is characterized by difficulties with building relationships, emotional regulation, memory issues, poor or disjointed self-perception, low self-esteem and trust issues.

When children are separated from the main caregivers, they may experience attachment trauma. Children and adults who have experienced this kind of trauma may experience trust issues, withdraw from relationships in order to avoid further rejection or hurt or become overly dependent or attached to others who have shown them kindness or affection. In some cases, a person may develop separation anxiety, which causes a person to feel extreme anxiety about being alone, nausea, stomach pain and stress when being separated from a parent, care giver, spouse, pet or child.

Medical trauma is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that can result from experiencing a negative and traumatic event while receiving medical care as an adult or child. It should not be confused with accident trauma, where the latter is related to being traumatized by a serious accident. Medical trauma can result from a variety of circumstances including being treated poorly by healthcare providers, having a painful experience with a medical procedure, surviving a life-threatening medical event, injury, or illness, or simply being on the receiving end of a serious diagnosis.

The aftermath of being injured in an automobile accident can be a long, difficult process. It is not uncommon for victims to have trouble regulating their thoughts, feelings, mood, and behaviour following a collision. They may feel hypervigilant, agitated, anxious, depressed, or numb. Many have problems with sleep, memory, attention, and concentration. They may be forgetful or internally preoccupied, phobic and fearful.

Being physically or sexually assaulted has a way of disrupting the mind and body - it affects the individual on a neurological level. This kind of trauma disrupts how we see the world, others, and ourselves. The victim often feels unsafe, trapped, vulnerable, and confused, while also grappling with denial, confusion, guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression. Many victims of assault blame themselves for what happened to them and that may lead to self-destructive behaviours.