Trauma is a person’s emotional response to an extremely distressing event. Trauma can manifest itself emotionally, when a stressful situation shatters your sense of security and makes you feel helpless. While trauma usually develops from a threat to your life or safety, any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed or isolated can have an effect too. Trauma does not always have to be from physical harm.

Emotional and psychological trauma can be caused by:

• One-time events - an accident, injury or violent attack especially if it occurred in your childhood.
• Ongoing, relentless stress - living in a crime-ridden area, battling a life-threatening illness or experiencing traumatic events that happen often such as bullying, domestic violence or childhood neglect.
• Commonly overlooked causes - a serious surgery especially in early childhood, the sudden death of a loved one, a breakup from a significant relationship or a humiliating or deeply disappointing experience.

There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to feel or respond to trauma. We all react to trauma differently, and we can experience a wide range of physical or emotional reactions. However, some common symptoms of emotional and psychological trauma include:

• Shock, denial, or disbelief
• Confusion, difficulty concentrating
• Anger, irritability, mood swings
• Anxiety and fear
• Guilt, shame, self-blame
• Withdrawing from others
• Feeling sad or hopeless
• Feeling disconnected or numb
• Insomnia or nightmares
• Fatigue
• Easily startled
• Difficulty concentrating
• Aches and pains
• Muscle tension

Recovering from trauma is not easy and it is important to be patient with yourself because everyone has their own journey. However, if months have passed and your symptoms are not letting up, you may need to seek help from a professional.

If you are facing the following challenges, it might be time to talk to someone:

• Having trouble functioning at home or work
• Suffering from severe fear, anxiety or depression
• Unable to form or sustain close, satisfying relationships
• Experiencing terrifying memories, nightmares or flashbacks
• Avoiding things or situations that remind you of the trauma
• Emotionally disconnecting from everything and everyone around you
• Using substances such as alcohol or drugs to make you feel better

Recovering from trauma is not easy and it is important to be patient with yourself because everyone has their own journey. However, if months have passed and your symptoms are not letting up, you may need to seek help from a professional.

Coping with chronic pain

People often see pain as a purely physical sensation, but chronic pain is far more complex than that. When you experience pain on a constant basis, it can have biological, psychological and emotional consequences.

Chronic pain can cause you to feel things such as:

• Anger
• Hopelessness
• Sadness
• Anxiety

So while medication, surgery and physical therapy might assist in treating the physical side of chronic pain, psychological treatments are just as important for treating the emotional and mental side of dealing with chronic pain.

With the help of a professional, you will learn to cope with your thoughts, feelings and behaviours that accompany chronic pain. A psychologist will not only work with you as an individual, but can work with your family too.

When working with a psychologist, you can expect to discuss your physical and emotional health. The psychologist will ask about the pain you experience, where and when it occurs, and what factors may affect it. In addition, he or she will likely ask you to discuss any worries or stresses, including those related to your pain.

Treatment plans are designed for each patient. The plan often involves teaching relaxation techniques, changing old beliefs about pain, building new coping skills and addressing any anxiety or depression that may accompany your pain.

The goal is to help you develop skills to cope with your pain and live a full life.