TRAUMA THERAPY LONDON ONTARIO

There are many different life situations that can overwhelm a person’s capability to cope and that can leave lasting emotional scars, long after the situation is “over”.  People often think of trauma as war, serious accidents, death, being assaulted, being abused or having surgery. Traumas can also include losing a job, experiencing a breakup or divorce, chronic illness, rejection, bullying or humiliation. These experiences may be seen as something that a person “should just get over”, adding invalidation to an already painful situation.  While many people think that trauma is something that happens to you, trauma can also constitute the absence of attuned emotional support and nurturing. For example, some people had happy, stable families and because of their own mental health challenges or hectic lives, their parents were not able to give them the attuned support that young people need to develop emotionally. Engaging in therapy can help you fill in the developmental gaps that may have been missing from your childhood, so you can feel mentally healthy, confident, and resilient. 

Symptoms of trauma

• Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of a past situation
• Sudden feelings of panic 
• Feeling hyper-vigilant to danger, and feeling as if you are constantly anticipating something bad will happen
• Experiencing nightmares 
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Feeling persistently tired, lethargic, or depressed 
• Feeling shame about who you are as a person 
• Difficulty trusting others 
• Engaging in unhealthy relationships 
• Feeling numb and disconnected from your body
•  Experiencing flashbacks or sensation of "reliving" your trauma