Trauma looks different to everyone and you never know how you or anyone else is going to respond to it. It’s possible to not even know how you’ve been affected by a traumatic experience until you start digging deeper.

But one thing is for certain – trauma can impact your health both emotionally and physically. 

By learning about the types of trauma and their symptoms, you will have a better handle on how to address your trauma and get the help you need. Whether physical or emotional, trauma is usually split into three different types: acute, chronic, and complex.

Here’s some information on each type of trauma, including what it is, its causes, and its symptoms. This is the result of a single distressing event that threatens your physical or emotional security. Examples of acutely traumatic events include assault, rape, accidents, or natural disasters.

They typically will create a long-lasting impression that can influence your future behaviors. 

Acute trauma can manifest itself and look like anxiety, panic, irritation, insomnia, lack of trust, lack of focus, and aggression. Exposure to multiple traumatic events or experiences can result in complex trauma. This type of trauma severely impacts your brain and thinking.

Victims of child abuse, domestic violence, neglect, intense family disputes, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and civil unrest can end up developing complex trauma.

You can expect your physical health, mental health, relationships, and performance at school or work to become unstable and suffer. When you are exposed to multiple, long-term, and prolonged traumatic events over an extended period of time, that is chronic trauma. 

Examples of events that can cause chronic trauma include severe illness, domestic violence, sexual abuse, bullying, and extremely distressing situations, like war. Symptoms of chronic trauma can remain dormant and not show themselves until years after the trauma. 

These symptoms can look like anxiety, anger, flashbacks, emotional outbursts, PTSD, headaches, and nausea. If you have chronic trauma, you may find it difficult to keep a stable job or relationship if left untreated. Emotional and physical responses to trauma are normal and totally understandable considering what you’ve endured.

Here are some signs and symptoms of trauma to look out for.

• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anger
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Fear
• Guilt
• Shame
• Feeling sad or hopeless
• Feeling disconnected from yourself and others

• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Racing heartbeat
• Agitation
• Muscle aches and pains
• Tension
• Headaches
• Changes in sleeping and eating patterns 

If left untreated, these symptoms can turn into much larger issues such as substance abuse, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and self-destructive behaviors, to name a few. It doesn’t have to get to that point – help is available to you. The impact trauma has on your health can be severely damaging, which is why trauma therapy programs are so important. During trauma therapy, you can expect to go through psychotherapy to address your trauma and learn healthy coping skills. 

You will work with a dedicated healthcare professional to develop a customized plan that is right for you and will help you get back to living a healthy life. To find a trauma therapy program in South Jersey, contact Harmony Bay Wellness

Are you ready to move forward and start therapy? Then contact Harmony Bay Wellness of New Jersey.

As shown above, we offer comprehensive therapy options to help with the challenges of coping with Mental Health.

To schedule a consultation today, call us at 855.765.6399.