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Trauma doesn’t always announce itself in obvious ways. Sometimes, it creeps in, through restless nights, the fears you can’t explain, or the weight of silence that remains long after the storm has passed. Eventually, the weight becomes so heavy that it impacts your daily life, touching every aspect of your existence.
Trauma can impact both children and adults. Studies show that 48 percent of kids in Delaware experience trauma. Many individuals walk through life with deep wounds, unsure why they feel hopeless, detached, or consumed by anxiety. The impact of trauma lasts long after the traumatic experience has passed. Our body keeps score of everything that happens to us, even as our mind tries to forget.
At SUN Behavioral Delaware, we’re all too familiar with the signs of trauma and the impact they can have on individuals. Let’s explore the effects of trauma.
Trauma affects everyone differently, and recognizing the signs isn’t always easy. While everyone's experiences will vary, there are some common emotional, psychological, physical, and behavioral signs that may indicate someone is living with trauma. Understanding the impact of trauma and how it can manifest in various ways helps recognize its effects and leads to a better approach for healing.
Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind; it often leaves traces on the body as well. Here are some physical signs to be aware of.
After experiencing a physical injury, trauma may present as persistent pain that ranges from mild to severe. Stress after a traumatic event can also cause the body to have a physical response. This is a common yet overlooked symptom. When the body is in a heightened state of stress and panic, it can cause tension or aching in the muscles, joints, and other areas.
Fatigue is often associated with trauma. It’s more than just feeling tired; it is persistent exhaustion that doesn’t disappear with rest. After a trauma, the body is in a constant state of alert, which causes individuals to feel drained regardless of how much sleep they get. The mind is continuously trying to process and manage distressing memories, requiring a significant amount of energy and leaving you depleted.
Changes in sleep patterns are common after trauma. These disturbances include insomnia, nightmares, sleep avoidance, and sleep paralysis (the feeling of being awake but being unable to speak or move). During trauma, the body’s response system is activated as a way of protection. However, this fight-or-flight response lingers long after that traumatic incident is over.
Gastrointestinal issues are not “just in your head”. The gut is connected to the brain, which means that trauma can affect the digestive system. Common gastrointestinal issues include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach aches, appetite changes, and nausea.
When someone experiences a traumatic event, their fight-or-flight response is activated. Even after the trauma passes, they may feel chronic stress, which can cause issues such as increased heart rate, heart palpitations, or chest discomfort.
Emotional trauma can shape how we think, feel, and show up in the world. Recognizing these internal signs is a crucial step toward healing.
After a life-threatening or overwhelming event, the brain processes it as danger, and even after the trauma is over, the body responds as if it’s still fighting to survive. Intense fear often manifests even without a clear trigger, typically in the form of sudden panic, hypervigilance, emotional flashbacks, constantly feeling like something terrible is going to happen, and difficulty trusting people.
Persistent sadness is a common effect of trauma. Individuals often feel like they’re navigating life with a dark cloud looming over them. It presents as hopelessness and feeling as though joy is intangible. They feel disconnected from themselves and the world around them. The despair is so consuming that it impacts every aspect of their life.
Trauma can disrupt emotional regulation. After going through a traumatic experience, individuals may feel like they’re on an emotional rollercoaster where things are constantly going up and down. These mood swings are about more than just being “moody” or “overly sensitive” and are a result of the nervous system being out of balance.
Flashbacks are a core symptom of trauma. They are perplexing, deeply frightening, involuntary memories or re-experiences of the past. When flashbacks occur, individuals feel like they’re reliving the traumatic event, not just remembering it. Flashbacks often involve full sensory immersion and can cause a loss of awareness of surroundings, feeling as though the trauma is happening again, and reacting to perceived danger.
Intrusive thoughts are also one of the hallmark symptoms of trauma and are typically connected to flashbacks. They’re unwanted, distressing thoughts or memories related to the traumatic event and can occur without a specific trigger. These disturbing thoughts may appear without warning and be difficult to control.
Sometimes, after a traumatic event, it can be difficult to recall certain details. Individuals may remember things out of order, inaccurately, or not at all, or their memory may feel foggy. Trauma can alter the brain’s ability to process and store information, which directly impacts memory.
Shame and guilt are emotions that typically accompany trauma and can make recovery challenging. Shame presents as a belief that the traumatic event reflects, creating the feeling that something is wrong with the person. On the other hand, guilt stems from the belief that the person could’ve done something to change the outcome of the traumatic event, despite it being out of their control.
Trauma can show up as changes in behavior. These patterns offer clues about what the mind and body are trying to process.
A common behavioral response to trauma is avoidance. This may look like avoiding situations, people, or places that are reminders of the trauma. Avoidance is typically done as a form of protection.
After trauma occurs, some individuals withdraw socially from others. While isolation may seem like protection, it often reinforces fears, deepens disconnection, and gets in the way of healing. Many individuals feel alone in their experience with trauma or have difficulty trusting, further leading them to isolate themselves from others.
Difficulty concentrating is a frustrating effect of trauma. It can ripple into every part of a person’s life, including school, work relationships, and daily tasks, as the brain prioritizes survival over focusing. When trauma occurs, the brain goes through significant changes that can affect one’s ability to focus, no matter how hard they try. They may find themselves spending most of their time replaying the traumatic event or stuck in a cycle of fear.
Whether it’s an accident, an act of violence, or a natural disaster, trauma presents differently from person to person. Oftentimes, its effect shows up gradually and impacts your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Whether you’ve experienced trauma yourself or are concerned about your loved one, understanding the signs is important. When trauma is present, it can be debilitating and impact your daily life.
It’s common for someone who's gone through trauma to feel stuck in the past, unsure of how to move forward. If you’ve noticed changes in yourself or someone you love, like those mentioned in this post, it could be a sign of trauma. Maybe you’ve shut down, distanced yourself from everyone, and stopped engaging in activities you once enjoyed. Or you’ve observed that your loved one is hypervigilant, socially withdrawn, or consumed by sadness.
If you’ve recognized these signs, it’s time to take action. Trauma is treatable, and there’s a whole new life waiting for you once you begin healing. Trauma may take a significant toll on you, but it doesn’t have to define you.
While trauma is debilitating, with the right treatment, you can get back to being yourself. Recognizing the signs in yourself or a loved one is the first step toward healing. If you’re experiencing the aftereffects of trauma, you’re not alone, and help is available. We understand that every individual’s experience is unique and that treatment approaches should be tailored to meet each person’s specific needs. Trauma therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic modality developed to help you face your past so that you can heal from it.
At SUN Behavioral Delaware, we solve unmet needs by offering effective trauma therapy. Our skilled therapists work with you to identify and manage triggers, build healthy coping skills, and restore your sense of safety. We treat both adolescents and adults using a range of trauma therapy approaches. If you or someone you know is experiencing the effects of trauma, seeking help is vital. Contact us at (302) 604-5600 to learn more about our trauma therapy programs.
21655 Biden Ave
Georgetown, DE, 19947
Open 24 hours
SUN Delaware
