Hundreds of millions of people in the United States experience trauma at least once in their lifetime. Anxiety-related symptoms are particularly common with trauma, so you may not realize you are dealing with trauma if you have already been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Have you noticed that your anxiety symptoms have intensified after a stressful event? If so, you may need to seek out trauma therapy to help you fully process and move on from your trauma and anxiety.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we understand how trauma and anxiety can rob you of your quality of life. Our trauma-informed therapists help you work through traumatic events and anxiety so that you can move on to a more fruitful life. Give us a call today at 866.516.8356 to learn more about the benefits of trauma therapy for anxiety symptoms.
The Relationship Between Trauma and Anxiety
Trauma is the result of any event that causes a person to feel in danger of harm or death. Some examples of traumatic events include:
- A serious accident
- Physical assaulted
- Rape or sexual assault
- Involvement in military combat
- Neglect, abuse, or bullying as a child
You can also experience trauma from witnessing someone else experiencing one of the above events. However, many people do not realize this and struggle to connect their current emotional struggles with witnessing a traumatic event in their past.
So how does trauma develop after a stressful event? When people undergo extreme stress, they often react with short-term effects such as shock and feeling overwhelmed. With the help of a therapist, many people can process their trauma and prevent it from leading to a long-term condition like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unfortunately, the signs of trauma are not always noticeable in people, and some may overlook their symptoms or write them off as unrelated anxiety or depression. This is especially true when a person was already struggling with an anxiety or depressive disorder before the trauma. However, trauma can exacerbate anxiety and requires professional treatment to manage it and prevent it from controlling your life.
The Effects of Trauma on Anxiety
After a traumatic event, you can experience a range of emotions, including fear, paranoia, or irritability. Sometimes the effects of trauma are not present until weeks or months after the event, so it can be easy to ignore the connection. A core part of trauma is feeling unsafe and worrying that the events could happen again. If you were already struggling with anxiety, you might begin to experience heightened anxious symptoms, such as:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Low energy
- Sleep disturbances
- Feeling jumpy
- Digestive discomfort
- Headaches
To overcome anxiety, whether induced or intensified by trauma, you will need the help of trauma therapy from a trained counselor.
How Can a Trauma Therapy Program Help?
Trying to manage trauma on your own can be nearly impossible. Many people self-medicate with drugs or alcohol because the anxiety is too intense. When you enroll in a trauma therapy program, you will have the advantage of amenities such as:
- Medication – A physician can provide you with short-term and long-term medications to address life-disrupting anxiety symptoms.
- Behavioral therapy – Your counselor will help you identify how trauma has impacted your thoughts and behaviors and help you restructure your thoughts.
- Trauma-informed therapy – Your therapist can guide you through techniques like exposure therapy to help desensitize you to anxiety triggers related to your trauma.
With the help of professionals, you can reclaim a state of emotional balance. Trauma will not go away on its own, but you can process and heal from it with an experienced therapist.
Begin Healing at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
If anxiety and trauma are making it difficult for you to enjoy your life fully, reach out to the professionals at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston. Our trauma therapy programs can help you work through past trauma and anxiety. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to start enjoying your life again.
