Coping With Trauma
Trauma can take the form of a one-time experience such as a natural disaster, or an ongoing event such as abuse.
Experiences of trauma can be devastating and can leave an individual struggling to understand what has happened, why it happened, and how to handle it going forward. These are just some of the concerns that are addressed after trauma has occurred.
Responses to trauma show up in many different forms and each person may struggle with it differently. Some people choose to go on living like nothing has happened only to find that they are suddenly struggling to cope with something that had occurred years ago. Some people will try to process the trauma immediately and may experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, or use substances as a way to get through the pain.
Learning to effectively cope with trauma is not only beneficial to the person who experienced it, but it can also assist the individual's family and friends who might have been unsure about how to effectively support them. Learning strategies and gaining the ability to process thoughts and emotions around the trauma can be a healthy choice during a difficult time in one's life.
