Some Signs of Trauma May be Unexpected—What to Know
You may be familiar with some of the more common symptoms of trauma. For instance, it’s well known that people can suffer from flashbacks after trauma or feel triggered by reminders of the event. But not every symptom of trauma is obvious.
In fact, many people do not even realize that the symptoms they are struggling with indicate that they are still affected by past trauma. Therefore, they do not seek help when they really need it. Over time, the symptoms can worsen without treatment.
What are some of the unexpected signs of trauma? Let’s explore a few symptoms that often are not recognized as trauma.
Poor Decision Making
Someone who has lived through trauma may have trouble making decisions. They may not feel truly comfortable with any of the choices available to them in a given situation.
Even when a choice seems simple to others, it does not always feel this way for someone with trauma. A person who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder might struggle to trust themselves with decision making. They may feel like they can’t rely on their own judgments, or that no option will be genuinely safe.
Feeling Overwhelmed
A person who has suffered from trauma might feel overwhelmed most of the time. Even when they know that they don’t have much to get done on a given day, simple tasks can feel like too much.
Living through trauma can leave a person with brain fog, and just getting through the day can become exhausting. This can also inspire feelings of guilt; someone with PTSD might wish that they could keep up with their old schedule, but now, it feels impossible.
Mood Swings
Many people know mood swings can indicate a mental health condition. However, people tend to associate this particular symptom with bipolar disorder. But mood swings can also be a sign that someone is still living with the effects of trauma. Why does this occur?
It can happen because triggers and recollections of trauma can turn a happy moment into a stressful time. Sometimes, it can be hard to trust that a positive mood will persist, because someone who has gone through trauma knows how quickly the atmosphere can change.
Memory Loss
Trauma can make it difficult for someone to simply think clearly. They may find themselves ruminating on what happened rather than focusing on anything else. This isn’t a conscious choice; they are trying to make sense of what happened and why. But in the long run, this can pose some serious challenges.
Someone who was traumatized may be unable to focus at work or in school, causing their performance to suffer. They might also experience short-term memory loss and forget things that they normally would not have overlooked.
Sensitivity to Anger
Living through trauma can make someone feel like they are never actually safe. And they can find it hard to trust other people; putting their safety in someone else’s hands simply feels too risky. They may also feel very sensitive to the anger of other people.
Hearing another person raise their voice can prompt a strong reaction from someone with trauma. They might get the urge to leave the room immediately, or they may even feel like crying. For a person who has lived through trauma, being exposed to anger from other people can instantly bring them back to the traumatic event.
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Do you suspect that you’ve been dealing with some lesser-known symptoms of PTSD? EMDR therapy can help you heal. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.