Trauma Recovery

Trauma comes in many shapes and sizes.

Having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not limited to combat veterans or survivors of atrocious abuse. While these events can certainly cause severe damage, other less apparent traumas can cause just as much, if not more, psychological harm.

One way to look at trauma is to consider it a highly distressing experience that overwhelms your ability to cope. These experiences can be different for everyone. We can think of them as “Big T” and “Little T” traumas.

“Big T” traumas are what most people think of when they hear about trauma and PTSD. They include events like experiencing or witnessing violence, death, or sexual violence. “Little T” traumas can be any number of things, including being constantly ridiculed as a child, childhood bullying, breakups or infidelity, financial difficulties, or losing a job.

Evidence now suggests that repeated exposure to “Little T” traumas can cause just as much emotional harm than exposure to a single “Big T” traumatic event.

You are not alone.

Sometimes, people don’t know the source of their trauma. They only have a sense that something feels off.

Let’s meet Joe*. He was getting along fine with his work as an engineer for the government. His daughter became suddenly ill and tragically passed away. Shortly afterward, he began having nightmares. Feeling tired and anxious from his restless sleep, he became irritable and on edge.

Arguments with his wife started, which was unusual for him. His family began questioning whether he needed help.

At his wife’s insistence, Joe sought the help of a doctor.

This is when Joe began Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

Joe’s doctor suggested he see an EMDR therapist to address the grief over losing his daughter. While in therapy, he uncovered another source of his trauma: a terrible life-threatening accident he experienced over a decade ago, where he witnessed the violent death of a close friend.

This trauma from the loss of his friend had gone unresolved and eventually became triggered once more by the death of his daughter. The nightmares he experienced following his daughter’s death were of the accident that happened over a decade ago.

Throughout his EMDR therapy, Joe’s nightmares resolved entirely. He was able to recall fond memories of his daughter. His sleep finally felt restful, and he could better manage his intense emotions. His angry outbursts subsided, and his wife and grown children said they wanted to be around him again.