FAQs about Trauma Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia

Here you are again wondering if you are struggling with the aftermath of trauma and thinking about starting trauma therapy. But you’ve got some questions that you’re unsure of.

FAQs about Trauma Therapy in Atlanta

If you have never been to therapy before you might have lots of questions about trauma therapy. If you have been to therapy for many years, you might still have questions before you get started. Here are a few questions that might help answer your questions about trauma therapy as you begin thinking about starting your journey.

Question #1: How do I know if I need trauma therapy?

Most people associate trauma with being attacked or with someone who has gone to war. But trauma can result from any event that overwhelms you and decreases your ability to cope. This can include any number of events a person might experience in their life including being attacked or going to war, any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, being abandoned, losing a friend or family member, accidents or natural disasters, raising a special needs child, single parenting, and witnessing or hearing about these events are just a few.

You might experience feelings of depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, guilt and shame, overwhelming fears, and shock. You could also find yourself avoiding certain places or activities that remind you of the event, struggling to sleep at night, or having nightmares. Withdrawing from family and friends or no longer feeling interested in an activity you once enjoyed can also indicate unhealed trauma. You might notice you startle easily or feel the need to constantly be looking for the next danger. If any of this fits what you are currently experiencing, then you could be struggling with unhealed trauma.

Question #2: Shouldn’t I be over this by now?

Trauma can have a profound and lasting impact on our lives. It can resurface as we hit various different stages of life. For example, a child who experiences sexual abuse might struggle in new ways with their abuse as they reach puberty. A young woman might have new trauma symptoms arise when she gets married or has a child of her own. 

Needing to return to therapy for trauma therapy may not necessarily mean your previous treatment didn’t work. Each new stage of life can bring different thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about oneself that may need to be addressed with a trauma therapist.

Question #3: How long will trauma therapy last?

This can be difficult to determine and can vary from person to person. The goals you set for therapy might also determine what healing looks like and how long it will take. Healing for you might mean being able to feel safe again or feeling able to trust others enough to open up to them. But if your goals for healing only center around daily function, then it may feel as though you are moving faster toward healing.

Trauma therapy has also improved over the last few decades and healing does tend to happen quicker than it did then. If you have questions or concerns about your progress or treatment, it is also a good idea to talk it over with your therapist.

Question #4: What happened could have been much worse, so why is this affecting me?

If you broke your arm you would need to have X-rays possibly the bone rest and a cast put on. Imagine sitting in an emergency room waiting to be seen by the doctor and waiting for this process to begin. While you wait you hold your arm and find ways to cope with the pain of your injury when the emergency room doors fly open. Moments later an unconscious person is wheeled in on a gurney with a head injury and immediately whisked down a hallway out of sight. Clearly, the other person is in greater need of medical care than you are, but that does not illuminate your pain or need for medical care too. 

The effects of trauma are the same way. Someone else’s trauma may have been worse but you still need treatment for the aftermath of your trauma too. Without treatment, the negative emotional effects will continue to be there at various levels of intensity.

Question #5: Can I really be affected by trauma if I don’t remember it?

Absolutely! Sometimes this shows up as feeling uneasy around certain people or places. You might have a strong desire to leave even if you don’t know why. This can even be caused by places and people you have never been to or never met before if they share similar characteristics. 

Controlling your emotions might also be difficult if you are struggling with repressed trauma. Small things might take you from feeling calm or relaxed to suddenly being filled with fear or anger. This change is often due to a subconscious reminder of repressed trauma. 

Repressed trauma also can lead to higher levels of anxiety than other people may experience. Working to uncover your repressed trauma with an experienced trauma therapist can help to decrease anxiety.

If you are looking for help with the aftermath of trauma from childhood abuse, rape, or domestic violence in Atlanta, Georgia, you can contact me here or call (678) 744-5369 to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. You can read more about how I help with depression, anxiety, or toxic relationship patterns. Those raising a child diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) can read more about how I can help calm your anxiety here.