The Impacts of Trauma, written by a Baltimore trauma therapist

By Alli Clayton, LCSW-C, an actual licensed trauma therapist in Baltimore, MD

Now that we know a little about trauma from the prior blog, let’s delve into its impacts.

Often, we are encouraged to forget about that bad thing. 

To not talk about it.

To push it under the rug.

Ignore it.

Pretend it never happened.

We can be shamed for talking about our traumatic experiences or asking for help. 

Yet, by holding it in, the experiences take deeper root in us. We are made to feel more alone. 

And those bad events become traumatic experiences when we feel alone. We are much more likely to not be traumatized when we feel supported and understood.

When we feel alone, those experiences lead to us feeling Ashamed. Disconnected. Confused. Unworthy. Neglected. Hurt. We hold onto this pain mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

Our bodies remember the trauma. Even if we mentally forget them (which can be an important protective factor), our bodies hold the events. Unless they are processed and released from the body, this can lead to some real physical manifestations of the trauma. 

It is wildly unfair, but people who have had chronic trauma, especially throughout childhood (think: neglect, abuse, systemic injustices, etc.) have much higher rates of chronic pain and illness. If you’re not familiar with the ACE study, I highly recommend looking into it. 

Essentially, the more adverse childhood experiences one has had, the poorer their health is as an adult. They have an increased likelihood of suffering from chronic pain & illnesses, substance abuse, poverty, repeating the cycle of trauma, entering into abusive relationships, and more.

Trauma often looks like and can develop into other mental health disorders. People who have experienced chronic trauma are much more likely to be diagnosed with:

Depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder, substance use disorder… the list goes on.

The “lowercase t” traumas leave wounds, too. Those experiences make us feel more alone. Anxious. Scared. Depressed. Ashamed. Exhausted. Living in fear. We have difficulties in relationships. Low self-esteem. Disordered eating. Distorted views of the world. Addictions. All of which can manifest in mental health disorders.

Unfortunately, our society often tries to treat the symptoms of trauma rather than the trauma itself. We give medication to manage depressive symptoms without looking at why the person is depressed. 

Yet, when we gently and effectively process the trauma in a safe environment (this part is key!!), our whole system changes. Slowly, we can let go of the pain and burdens that we have held onto. By doing so, we can find healing, peace, and inner reparation. 

Curious to learn more? Stay tuned for the next blog posts in the trauma series. In the meantime, email me here to schedule your first appointment with Shine the Light Counseling. Because change is possible.