Trauma occurs when an emotional event overwhelms the brain’s normal mechanisms and we take on board too strong a learning about the event. For example, if you nearly drown it could happen that your mind takes the traumatic event on board and creates a reaction to water designed to keep you from encountering a similar situation. This overreaction can vary in trauma from a strong fear to outright panic at triggers that cause the mind to recall the frightening situation. There triggers could be obvious, such as fear of a river to a more general form such as panic at leaving your home. In each case the reaction is designed to protect you but it can be an over the top response.
Thankfully the brain can relearn a more appropriate response to the traumatic event and EMDR is very successful in this regard.
Common symptoms of trauma include:
- Distraction and difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety, fear and panic
- Mood swings and anger
- Self blame and guilt
- A sense of disconnection or withdrawal from others
- Poor sleep / disturbing dreams
- Heightened startle response (jump at loud noise etc.)
- Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
- Pain, aches, and fatigue
For more information or advice please feel free to contact me to see how I can help you.