When horrible events happen to us or a loved one — like being abused, physically attacked, or being in a bad accident – we are affected in the immediate aftermath with problems such as reliving the event, being preoccupied with thoughts of the event, nightmares, and feeling anxious and keyed up. Some people who are exposed to a traumatic event go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

I am well-known as an expert in assessing and treating trauma. I was trained by the top PTSD experts in the country and have 25 years in the field as a researcher and clinical psychologist. As a provider, I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), both of which can clear trauma in 1-3 sessions on average. I have led a number of studies using cutting edge technology, such as Stellate Ganglion Block, to treat PTSD using a 10-minute medical procedure that we’ve found to be incredibly effective. I served on President Obama’s task committee on assessing and treating PTSD in Washington DC. And as someone who has also experienced and healed from trauma myself, I have both personal and professional experiences to draw upon.

Trauma Can Cause a Wide Variety of Issues

Memories of the trauma can haunt someone. Trauma survivors often feel keyed up most of the time, especially when they’re reminded of what happened. Intrusive thoughts about the potential for danger can also make it hard to focus on anything else.

They might also feel depressed about what happened or the effects the trauma has had on their lives. Trauma-related anxiety and depression can make the person feel like life is not worth living.

Being in a constant state of fight-or-flight , can cause physical problems or make physical problems worse, such as insomnia, headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, chronic pain, and digestive problems. This can also make a trauma survivor more vulnerable to stress-related illnesses, such as heart attacks, hypertension, and terminal illnesses.

Trauma survivors can also turn to alcohol and other substances to turn off their minds and numb out, which can lead to substance abuse and addiction. They can seek escape through other risky behavior, such as reckless driving. In these ways, trauma can also endanger people’s safety and well-being.

Being distracted, tense, and irritable can also lead to problems at home, at work, or at school. Relationships are also affected because trauma survivors can feel cut-off or distant from people or may isolate. Feeling unsafe can also make it hard to leave the house.

There are many reasons why it is hard for trauma survivors to seek help. There is a natural tendency to not want to think about or talk about the trauma because it is so upsetting. A person might feel a lot of shame and guilt for not preventing the trauma from happening. Trust does not come easy for trauma survivors, especially if they were victimized by others. Believing that they are damaged and broken, trauma survivors might also feel hopeless about their situations improving.

Trauma Can Be Treated

There is help for trauma survivors. Evidence-based treatment for trauma includes trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR). The benefits of therapy can be enhanced with medication, herbal supplements, exercise, and mindfulness mediations.

Call me if you or someone you love has been affected by trauma.