At True Roots Therapy, we believe that understanding the connection between trauma and mental health is the first step toward healing. Whether you’ve experienced a single traumatic event or have been living with the effects of ongoing stress, trauma can deeply affect your emotional and psychological and even physical well-being. And while it can often feel isolating, you are not alone in your experiences—healing is possible.
If you’ve ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected from your social circle, it might be helpful to explore how trauma could be affecting your mental health. You might have heard therapists or practices describe their approach as trauma-informed, but what does that mean? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how trauma impacts the mind and body, and how trauma-informed psychotherapy can help you on your journey toward healing.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma can be defined as any experience that overwhelms your system’s natural ability to cope. It doesn’t just have to be big, life-altering events like accidents or natural disasters—it can also come from long-term, smaller stresses like emotional neglect, ongoing conflict, or even bullying. Trauma can take on a variety of forms including developmentally (if it occurs in childhood during “formative years”) vicariously (experienced through witnessing or hearing about others’ traumas) or generationally (experienced by entire communities facing hardships).
Trauma is deeply personal, and what may be traumatic for one person might not feel the same for someone else.When we experience trauma, our bodies and minds go into “survival mode.” The brain and nervous system are wired to protect us, so they respond by triggering the fight, flight, or freeze response. This might keep us safe in the moment, but over time, the effects of trauma can show up in many areas of our lives, especially our mental health.
How Trauma Affects Mental Health
Trauma can influence almost every aspect of mental well-being. The affects can manifest emotionally, physically, and even socially. Here are some of the most common mental health challenges that can arise from unresolved trauma:
- Anxiety: Trauma often leaves individuals with a heightened sense of fear called hyper-vigilance. You may constantly feel “on edge” or experience sudden panic attacks, even when you’re not in danger. Your body and mind can remain stuck in a state of heightened alertness long after the traumatic event has passed.
- Depression: Many individuals who’ve experienced trauma feel disconnected, hopeless, or struggle with low self-worth. The trauma may lead you to feel emotionally numb or like you’re carrying a weight that you can’t shake off.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a common response to traumatic experiences. Symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, and avoidance of any reminders of the trauma. These symptoms can be debilitating, making it difficult to function in everyday life.
- Mood Disorders: Trauma can also contribute to mood swings, irritability, and extreme emotional responses. You may feel disconnected from your emotions or struggle with intense emotional highs and lows.
- Difficulty with Relationships: Trauma can affect how we relate to others. You may find it hard to trust, feel constantly anxious in relationships, or struggle to feel emotionally safe with others. This can lead to feelings of isolation or disconnection from those you care about.
The Body and Trauma
It’s important to note that trauma isn’t just a mental health issue—it’s also a physical one. The body stores the affects of trauma in the nervous system, which can result in ongoing tension, aches, or unexplained physical symptoms. People with unresolved trauma might also experience sleep disturbances, headaches, or digestive issues.
This is why trauma-informed psychotherapy takes a holistic approach, addressing not only your thoughts and feelings but also how trauma is stored in the body. By understanding the physical manifestations of trauma, we can work together to help you reconnect with your body, ground yourself in the present, and find healing on all levels.
Healing from Trauma: How Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy Can Help
At True Roots Therapy, we specialize in trauma-informed psychotherapy, a compassionate and evidence-based approach that acknowledges the unique ways trauma affects each person. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other symptoms of trauma, therapy can help you gain back your agency.
When we say “trauma-informed psychotherapy” we mean:
- Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment: Trauma-informed therapy prioritizes creating a safe space where you can feel heard, validated, and in control of your healing journey. You are the expert of your own experience, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
- Pacing and Empowerment: We understand that healing from trauma is not a one-size-fits-all process. We work with you at your pace, respecting your boundaries and empowering you to take the steps that feel right for you.
- Mind-Body Connection: Trauma affects both the mind and body, so we integrate techniques like mindfulness and grounding exercises to help you reconnect with your body, process difficult emotions, and regulate your nervous system.
- Building Resilience: We believe in your ability to heal and grow. Trauma-informed therapy not only addresses the pain of the past, but it also empowers you to build resilience for the future, helping you regain a sense of safety, control, and strength.
Taking the First Step Toward Healing
Trauma can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you’ve been struggling with the effects of trauma, know that there is hope—and healing is possible. We can often equate trauma work to cleaning a wound: it can sting, and be uncomfortable at times, but after a difficult process, you are left with something that is able to heal properly.
We invite you to book a consultation with us today to see how we can support you on your healing journey. Whether you’re looking for in-person or virtual sessions, we’re here to provide the compassionate, evidence-based care you need to move forward.