Trauma
Experiencing trauma changes our brain in a way that no other experience can. The aftermath can leave you with highly distressing memories that drain joy from life. At Unity Therapy Services in Temecula, CA, we are passionate about offering tailored trauma treatment with the goal of processing painful memories that can lead to genuine and long-lasting relief.
Exploring Trauma
Trauma Examples
Traumatic experiences are different due to the distressing, disturbing, or dangerous nature of them. Some examples of single event trauma include car accidents, natural disasters, violent crime incidents, or workplace accidents. Series of traumatic events or chronic trauma examples include childhood or vulnerable adult abuse and neglect, war, prison sentence, or intimate partner violence. This list doesn’t include everything but provides a glimpse into what is considered trauma.
Trauma Reactions
In an attempt to survive, you will automatically react in one of the following ways:
Fight: React by using aggression or physical force to get away
Flight: React by trying to evade and escape the person or situation
Freeze: React by restricting movement, going quiet, and mentally shutting down
Fawn: React by excessive people pleasing to de-escalate violence
Trauma Processing
Our brain is constantly sorting through everything we experience in one day and identifying what is necessary to remember and what can be processed and forgotten. Trauma is very hard on the body and the mind – which makes it stick around longer. This doesn’t mean every person develops a trauma related disorder after experiencing trauma – but it means that some people will process trauma naturally with sleep or talking through it with a professional and others will not. There is no way to predict how you’ll respond to trauma until it happens.
Trauma Related Disorders
If you are not able to process the trauma – you might begin experiencing things that take a toll on your ability to function at home, work, school, or in relationships. PTSD is an extremely disruptive mental health disorder with negative outcomes if not treated. PTSD symptoms tend to be intense and unpredictable.
Symptoms of PTSD are grouped into 4 categories:
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- Intrusion: Intrusive thoughts of the traumatic event including nightmares or vivid flashbacks (which can happen when you are awake).
- Avoidance: Intentional avoidance of things that remind you of the trauma. You may isolate yourself to avoid explaining this.
- Negativity: Mood is depressed with increasingly negative thoughts about the world (unsafe, cruel). You might feel overly irritated, rageful or tearful.
- Hyperarousal: High startle response to sounds or other sensory stimuli. You may experience a rapid heartbeat, sweating, or shaking with inability to self-sooth.
Treatment for Trauma Related Disorders
Our team at Unity Therapy Services brings a high level of experience and understanding in treating trauma for people at all walks of life. We offer bilingual evidence based trauma treatments for children, teens, and adults.
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- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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We collaborate alongside you to form a treatment plan that reduces your trauma-related symptoms, improves your mood, increases your ability to tolerate distress, and incorporates relaxation strategies to improve sleep. Overall – we guide you through the trauma treatment process by engaging with the memories and reducing their overall grip on your life.
Trauma related disorders will not ease up on their own. PTSD can cause high levels of despair which may lead to substance abuse, impulsive behavior, or lead to thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or violence against others. If you have any thoughts of wanting to harm yourself or others, please seek immediate help by dialing 911.
Unity Therapy Services is ready to answer your questions and get you on the path to healing. Contact us today at (951) 303-0006 for a free 15 minute consultation. If you are ready to schedule an appointment click here. Get to know the team at Unity Therapy Services here!