By Ernest Isaacs, MFT
There are two basic types of trauma, single incident, like an auto accident or robbery, and ongoing, like childhood abuse or service in a war zone. The results of both, called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, can be similar. In one manifestation of PTSD, you can have recurring distressing memories and dreams about the event or events.
These painful memories can easily be triggered when you are confronted with similar cues or circumstances, and traumatized people can spend a great deal of energy avoiding activities or places or people so that they are not re-traumatized. This can mean not driving by the scene of the accident or, more extremely, not getting into a loving relationship for fear of being hurt again.Sometimes the energy around the trauma eases with the passage of time, although this may not happen if your pain is severe. One mode of healing is, even though it is difficult, to talk with others about what happened. One effective mode for people abused as children is to join an abuse survivors group to share your stories and pain in a loving and supportive context. There are also psychological methods, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Emotional Freedom Technique, which can be very useful in healing your trauma.