How does trauma affect mental health?

Most of us will experience trauma in our lives. Trauma can be defined as something distressing or fearful that can have a long-lasting effect on mental health and well-being. Whether it is a single event or something that happened over a period of time, trauma can be hard to process and makes ordinary life difficult.
Body Response

When we encounter something that scares us, our bodies respond by producing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. As discussed by Harvard Health, this is designed to protect us, triggering safety responses of fight, flight or freeze. This rush of chemicals not only presents during the trauma itself, but it can also occur when reminded of past traumatic events.

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Effects of Trauma

Flashbacks can happen when something takes your mind back to an upsetting time or event. For example, hearing a loud noise, people arguing, or even a song on the radio can take you back to a time of trauma.

The body may respond once again by producing cortisol and adrenaline, leaving you feeling distressed. In some people, this can lead to panic attacks. Living life like this can be hard to cope with and may impact relationships, create addictions and make it difficult to function normally.

Seeking Help

If past trauma is affecting your quality of life, seeking help is essential. Look for professionals with trauma informed practice training who will have the expertise to help you recover.

If you are a health professional looking to expand your knowledge in supporting people with trauma, specialist training providers such as https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/trauma-informed-practice-training will provide in-depth information for learning.

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If you are suffering the effects of trauma, remember that you are not alone. Expert help will enable you to process past trauma, and give you the tools needed to enjoy life.