TRAUMA...

...it can leave us in shock, numb and/or immobilized. 

Trauma can be defined as any perceived or actual life threatening event that causes an unusually high level of emotional distress that has a long time negative effect on a person. It is the response to the threat that determines whether the event was traumatic, not the event itself. Peter Levine says that we become traumatized when our ability to respond to a perceived threat is in some way overwhelmed.

•  childhood emotional, verbal, physical or sexual abuse

• trust, attachment issues from childhood

• witnessing death, violence or threat of violence

• loss of job

• loss of a loved one

• rape

• abuse

• betrayal

• war

• natural disasters

• medical procedures

• accidents  

Possible causes of trauma...

Possible effects of trauma:

• anxiety

• depression

• numbed emotions

• anger/irritability

• overwhelming guilt or shame

• negative and critical beliefs of self

• panic

• intrusive thoughts

• easily startled

• difficulties sleeping

• difficulties concentrating

• feeling overwhelmed

• feeling a need for control

• fearful of being around people and situations

• denial

• helplessness/hopelessness

• detaching/disengaging

• racing thoughts 

• muscle tension

• dissociation

• fragmented memories of traumatic experience

Which may include, but are not limited to, some of the following:

Which may include, but are not limited to, some of the following: