On the Path to Healing: Understanding the Connection of Trauma and Mental Health
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that trauma and mental challenges are closely linked, with people who experienced trauma being more likely to develop mental health disorders. More than half of Australians have or will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, with most experiencing their first traumatic event before the age of 17 (Queensland Mental Health Commission). But what exactly constitutes a traumatic event? Well, there’s many types of events that can be traumatic and they can fall into different categories. Some are:
Single Incident Trauma (e.g., natural disasters, car accident)
Complex Trauma (e.g., family and domestic violence, interpersonal violence)
Systematic or Structural Trauma (e.g., creation of the Stolen Generation)
Organised Abuse (e.g., creation and distribution of sexual abuse materials)
Intergenerational Trauma (e.g., forced assimilation or cultural suppression)
Vicarious Trauma (e.g., hearing or witnessing traumatic events from working with trauma survivors or being exposed to traumatic material)
Ok, so we’ve established that many people experience something traumatic, and that it’s linked to mental health. But how exactly? For some, anxiety and flashbacks related to the memory of the trauma can occur leading to avoiding reminders of the trauma. For example, someone who’s been in a car accident may feel anxious being in a car and avoid driving. And for some, overtime these effects of trauma go away and they feel less anxious being in a car and can start driving again after a period of time passes. But for others, these feelings of fear can be so overwhelming, that even indirect reminders not seemingly related to the traumatic incident can still evoke a strong emotional response. For example, someone who has experienced family violence may be triggered by interpersonal interactions, such as being criticised even if it’s constructive criticism from a colleague. This can lead to a cycle, whereby a person feels a sense of shame about the trauma, even though it’s not their fault. Then when a person is triggered (e.g., from receiving constructive criticism at work), leading to a panic attack, they may feel an even greater sense of shame and embarrassment for having a panic attack at work. This can be distressing for the person and further reduce their mental wellbeing. This isn’t the only way trauma might show up for a person, but I’m sure you can imagine how difficult this could be for a person. So, how does one manage it?
Well, some use unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as use of substances, that in the short-term serve as a distraction, but in the long-term further emphasise a sense of shame. But ideally, the goal is to use healthy coping strategies to heal and manage the difficult emotions that come from trauma. This is when seeking mental health support from a mental health provider, such as a psychologist or counsellor, can be helpful. Essentially, they act as a ‘brain coach’ to help individuals rewire their brain by practicing new skills, such as self-compassion and mindfulness, that create new neural pathways that promote resiliency and post-traumatic growth. Mental health practitioners can help people feel empowered by learning to regulate their emotions and calm their nervous system, reframing negative self-talk and processing traumatic memories. Therapists may use different therapies to promote trauma recovery, such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
If you’d like to learn more about recovering from trauma, feel free to contact us for more information and Mind Connect Health can point you in the right direction. Whether that’s by sending through evidence-based resources to help increase your understanding, scheduling a counselling appointment or suggesting referral options for a therapist that’s a better fit for you. We’re happy to be part of your journey towards recovery, no matter how small the first step is.
Sources:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/prevalence-and-impact-of-mental-illness
