Trauma Therapy and Trauma Counselling in Vancouver

​​When we think of trauma, the first thing that might come to mind is life threatening trauma. Things such as experiencing combat, life-threatening car accidents, or a natural disaster. And for some people, these events can lead to “post traumatic stress disorder” or PTSD (symptoms are described below).

 

To learn more about PTSD, click here

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However, in addition to life-threatening trauma, many of us can experience what we call “small t” trauma.

 

“Small t” trauma is anything that we experience that significantly changes or shift our lives and how we think and view ourselves, others or the world. Examples of "small t" traumas include social ostracization, discrimination, infidelity, major life changes like divorce, ongoing emotional abuse, sudden or unexpected loss, and childhood neglect or abuse.

 

In either case, trauma can significantly affect our lives, cause various problematic symptoms, and make day to day functioning difficult. You might try to avoid thinking about the traumatic events in various ways, and sometimes this includes engaging in use of alcohol or drugs, emotional eating, or self destructive or self sabotaging behaviors.

 

Unfortunately, avoidance can often lead to the maintenance of trauma symptoms over time. 

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Trauma symptoms can vary from person to person but may include difficulties with:

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• Forming or maintaining relationships

• Concentration

• Self-esteem

• Managing emotions and feeling out of control

• Sense of self, contributing to feelings of shame or worthlessness

• For those who develop PTSD, additional symptoms may include:

• Flashbacks where it feels as though the traumatic event is occurring again

• Nightmares related to the traumatic event

• Repeated unwanted and involuntary memories of the trauma

• Physical symptoms and distress when reminded of the trauma

• Avoidance of reminders of the trauma (e.g., people or places connected to the event)

• Shifts in thoughts and mood related to the trauma

• Changes in beliefs about oneself or others (e.g., “I can’t trust others,” “The world is unsafe,” or “It happened because I am bad”)

• Intense emotions such as guilt, shame, fear, horror, anger, etc.

• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions

• Feeling detached from others or the world, and difficulty connecting with others
   

These symptoms make it very difficult to function in day to day life and can affect various parts of our life including work, school, and relationships. ​​​​