Impact of Trauma on Mental Health

Psychological trauma is the result of an event that leaves individuals with lingering negative emotions. Psychological trauma is a broad category that encompasses a wide range of experiences, from one-time events like an attack, injury, or accident, to ongoing stress such as illness, domestic violence, bullying, or the end of a relationship.

Psychological trauma can stem from many different sources, including childhood events or the passing of someone close. It is the lingering negative emotions, such as distressing memories, feelings of sadness, anxiety, depression, that categorize an experience as traumatic. Not every individual will react the same way to similar events and not every negative event will lead to psychological trauma. For instance, while it is natural to feel sadness at the end of a relationship or anxiety over an injury, when these feelings persist and begin to impact one’s psychological well-being significantly, they may indicate a deeper, ongoing traumatic issue.

Marcellus Wellness & Addiction works with patients in reevaluating their relationship with trauma, finding constructive ways to manage their emotions, and moving forward in life.

Trauma’s impact on mental health varies widely among individuals, influenced by a myriad of factors including the nature of the trauma, the individual’s overall mental health, and personal coping mechanisms.

However, it can lead to a wide range of adverse effects on an individual’s mental well-being. It can manifest in various emotional states such as anger, grief, irritation, restlessness, shame, and fear to name a few. The severity and duration of these emotions can vary, and what starts as one emotion may evolve into another over time.

Acute trauma may lead to immediate symptoms, but long-lasting trauma can result in the development of conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Trauma can also lead to physical symptoms like panic attacks, flashbacks, dissociation, sleep problems, substance misuse, self-neglect, and even suicidal thoughts.

Trauma increases the susceptibility to a wide range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, phobias, and more. When symptoms persist and significantly affect daily life, it may indicate the onset of PTSD, underscoring the need for professional intervention.

The psychological responses to trauma are varied and can differ considerably among individuals. Common responses include anxiety, especially when reminders of the traumatic event are present, intrusive memories, irritability, anger, shame, guilt, and self-blame.

These can arise immediately after the traumatic event or develop over time. Some individuals may experience survivor’s guilt, depending on the circumstances of the trauma. While most people will recover from these immediate responses in the days or weeks following the event, for others, the impact can be long-lasting, leading to severe issues such as PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse.

The main trauma responses are often categorized as fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. Each response can present in both healthy and unhealthy ways. For instance, the fight response may lead to self-preservation through strength and assertiveness but can also result in aggressive behaviors. The flight response might involve escaping unhealthy situations, which can be beneficial, or it might also lead to panic and constant fear.

The freeze response involves pausing in the face of danger, which can be associated with mindfulness when healthy but may result in disassociation or difficulty making decisions when not. The fawn response, characterized by people-pleasing behaviors, can facilitate connection with others but might also lead to passiveness and self-neglect.

These responses are not inherently wrong and regardless of the response there are healthy and unhealthy ways of processing trauma. Specialists at Marcellus Wellness & Addiction work with patients on a case-by-case basis, developing customized treatment plans to help them reassess their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions in relation to their trauma, with the goal of improving their overall mental health and wellness.

Trauma treatment is available at Marcellus Wellness & Addiction. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Bronx NY, Brooklyn NY, Manhattan NY, Queens NY, Rockville Centre NY, Staten Island NY, and surrounding areas.