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  • Trauma displays itself in a spectrum of ways and is different for every person.

  • When interacting with someone that has been through hard times, you may notice something is off, but have a hard time putting your finger on it.

  • In this video, we're going to be looking at seven common ways that trauma shows itself.

  • They are uncomfortable with people.

  • Someone struggling with trauma may have many signs similar to social anxiety, and perhaps that can be a part of it.

  • Psychotherapist Katie Gillis states that people who grew up in unstable and chaotic environments that constantly required them to be on their toes can continue these trends later in life.

  • Things like going out in crowded places, answering phone calls, or having an unexpected visitor at the door can lead to stress, especially when they haven't had time to prepare.

  • Gillis explains that this may arise from situations where they have consistently had their boundaries violated or were put on the spot.

  • Various social situations can mimic these traumatic moments where they were berated, hurt, or humiliated in the past, and they will do their best to avoid it.

  • This can strain friendships and make theoretically fun events draining.

  • They shut down or isolate.

  • We can't always control our situations, and sometimes something unexpected happens.

  • For someone with trauma, these unexpected situations can have profound effects.

  • One of the ways they may deal with them is by shutting down.

  • Psychotherapist Katie Gillis says that it's common for these people to go quiet in social situations.

  • They may withdraw in other ways by finding a distraction or excusing themselves to the bathroom or outside.

  • Different people have different triggers, so things like loud noises or familiar people, even those that look or act similar to someone they know, can lead to a trauma response.

  • Sometimes going out is too unpredictable, causing someone to stay in.

  • In other cases, they plan out what they're going to do in detail.

  • When they arrive at a place, they may locate exits or look over their shoulder in case something happens.

  • This level of preparation can be exhausting, and still something unexpected can happen that can be difficult to cope with.

  • They have compulsions.

  • Trauma can lead to compulsory behavior.

  • According to the Chicago Behavioral Hospital, this may mean substance abuse.

  • Drinking excessively and using drugs are common, but also other habits like overeating.

  • Katie Gillis gives another example of a compulsion where some people with trauma will maintain a certain level of physical distance from people they interact with, getting uncomfortable the closer the person is.

  • Compulsions can be a coping mechanism to mask uncomfortable feelings, but also a preventative measure to prevent these feelings from happening in the first place.

  • People who have suffered from trauma, especially early on, may have intense love-hate relationships with people, which can lead to them being victims of abuse or even perpetrators of it.

  • They deal with physical symptoms.

  • Mental health and physical health are related.

  • A Psych Guides article explains how dealing with trauma can manifest itself physically.

  • While your overall appearance may be affected, looking pale and lethargic, it's also possible to have sexual problems, aches, pains, and difficulty sleeping.

  • These issues can increase during stressful periods, making it harder to function physically on top of your mental state.

  • An article from the Lake Behavioral Hospital explains how people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, have neurological changes which can affect metabolism, neurotransmitter levels, and neuron health, which can have more direct impact on your physical health.

  • They excessively apologize.

  • Psych Guides goes on to say that talking to someone with trauma can be a unique experience.

  • They may appear disoriented or respond oddly to others.

  • Apologizing constantly, even over things that the person with trauma has no control over, is also common.

  • Psychotherapist Katie Gillis explains that this may be a response to growing up in a highly critical environment where everything is made to be your fault.

  • A person with trauma may always feel at fault for any misfortune that happens and will try to make amends with you to avoid your rejection or ridicule.

  • Even if you wouldn't react that way.

  • They have emotional outbursts.

  • The Lake Behavioral Hospital talks about how physical changes in your body chemistry affect physical health, but also that these changes impact behavior as well.

  • They state that changes to the amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex can impact your memory and emotional reactions.

  • People with trauma may have a shorter fuse, become easily flustered, and experience mood swings.

  • Emotions can be hard to control in triggering situations.

  • As we mentioned earlier, findings from the Australian Journal of General Practice show that heightened emotionality can affect relationships.

  • People with trauma may flip between idealizing or devaluing people in their life, which can have negative outcomes, sometimes leading to abusing or being abused.

  • They disassociate.

  • Disassociation is mentally disconnecting from a situation.

  • People with trauma may do this in situations that they are unable to escape from.

  • Dr. Lori Lawrence from Psych Central describes how this is a freeze response, a specific trauma response like fight or flight.

  • She states that freezing and dissociation are similar to an animal playing dead to survive.

  • While dissociating is meant to protect you in stressful situations, it can be problematic when it is triggered by everyday happenings.

  • When something triggers you, be it a person, a scent, or a visual, it can be difficult to come back from it when you are mentally detached.

  • Trauma is difficult for everyone, even though it shows itself in different ways.

  • Everyone struggles with it.

  • It's important when dealing with trauma to talk with a mental health professional.

  • When unchecked, it can affect your quality of life and relationships.

  • A qualified mental health professional can help work through these hard times and give you the tools and skills to better manage and process these feelings.

  • Thank you for watching this video.

  • If you enjoyed it, please give it a like and share it with someone you think will benefit from it.

  • Let us know your thoughts on it in the comment section.

  • Remember to subscribe to Psych2Go to keep up with our content and take care.

Trauma displays itself in a spectrum of ways and is different for every person.

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