Trauma & Abuse
Trauma
Trauma is a normal emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, and diminishes the sufferer's sense of self and ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences.
Traumatic childhood events can change the way a person's brain and body work. Trauma can affect the person's emotions, memory, thinking, and sense of being. Trauma can also affect future relationships. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of trauma or abuse, it is crucial to seek professional help, like what is offered at FHCTS. With the proper trauma counseling in Calgary and Edmonton, it is possible to, at first, manage symptoms, then to be released from your burdens and scars and improve your quality of life.
Trauma is something that forcefully overwhelms and overpowers you, against your will or choice. It is a violation of your person, autonomy, and dignity. When trauma "hits " you, it changes you from the person you were 5 seconds before the trauma hit. You may look like you did before, but somehow, you are different - you are "less than" and much more than, you were before. Now you have this hurt, insult, violation, stuck to you and you can't seem to shake it off. HELP ME!
Abuse
Describes a form of trauma that a person is subjected to that develops after a person has been hurt and/or neglected, usually towards someone who naturally has few defenses, such as a child or a weaker spouse. It can take many forms, such as physical, mental, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. As a result, the person abused is left with overwhelming feelings of distress, fear, and helplessness. Professional trauma therapy in Calgary and Edmonton helps them identify such feelings, heal, modify their response, and live their life fully.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
ACEs are traumatic experiences that children experience before the age of 18 that can have lasting impacts on their mental health, physical health, and general well-being that can negatively affect them and those around them for their entire life. ACEs can include violence, abuse, neglect, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. ACEs can change brain development and affect how the body responds to stress. ACEs are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing chronic diseases, mental illness, and substance abuse later in life. However, timely trauma counseling in Edmonton and Calgary can change their path of life.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats to a person's life or well-being. Symptoms of PTSD may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts about the event, and avoidance of triggers. PTSD symptoms may start within one month of a traumatic event, but sometimes, symptoms may not appear until years after the event. PTSD symptoms can cause significant problems in social or work situations and relationships and can interfere with daily tasks. The qualified psychotherapists provide suitable trauma therapy in Calgary and alleviate these symptoms.
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is a condition that can develop after experiencing prolonged and repeated trauma, such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, or war. C-PTSD shares many symptoms with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), such as flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance of triggers. However, C-PTSD also involves additional symptoms, such as difficulty controlling emotions, negative self-view, and detachment from the trauma. C-PTSD can have a significant impact on an individual's life, including their ability to form healthy relationships, maintain employment, and engage in daily activities. However, with proper trauma therapy in Edmonton and Calgary, individuals with C-PTSD can learn to manage their symptoms, lead fulfilling lives, and even find healing.
Dissociation
Psychological dissociation is a defense mechanism in response to trauma or overwhelming stress, where an individual separates from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or identity as a way to cope. It involves a disconnection between different aspects of consciousness, leading to a sense of detachment from oneself or the surrounding environment. Dissociation can manifest in various forms, ranging from mild detachment or spacing out to more severe conditions like Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), where distinct identities or personality states emerge. This phenomenon serves as a way for the mind to compartmentalize distressing experiences, but it can interfere with daily functioning and long-term mental health. The appropriate trauma counseling in Edmonton helps individuals realize this condition and reflect their true identity.