Westside Therapy
Online EMDR, Somatic Therapy and Mindfulness

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.
Possible causes of trauma...
Which may include, but are not limited to, some of the following:
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global pandemic
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childhood emotional, verbal, physical or sexual abuse
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trust, attachment issues from childhood
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witnessing death, violence or threat of violence
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loss of job
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loss of a loved one
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rape
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abuse
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betrayal
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war
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natural disasters
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medical procedures
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accidents
Possible effects of trauma:
Which may include, but are not limited to, some of the following:
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anxiety
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depression
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numbed emotions
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anger/irritability
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overwhelming guilt or shame
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negative and critical beliefs of self
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panic
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intrusive thoughts
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easily startled
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difficulties sleeping
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difficulties concentrating
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feeling overwhelmed
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feeling a need for control
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fearful of being around people and situations
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denial
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helplessness/hopelessness
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detaching/disengaging
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racing thoughts
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muscle tension
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dissociation
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fragmented memories of traumatic experience
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over eating or not eating