Survivors of trauma may not immediately identify themselves as such for many reasons. In some cases, the traumatic incidents may be too painful to discuss. In other instances, they may not recognize the events as traumatic, or they may unconsciously suppress these memories to protect themselves. It is the deep-seated nature of trauma that makes a trauma therapy program such a valuable part of the recovery process.
Trauma can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to rule over your life. With a trauma therapy program as part of your substance abuse and mental health treatment, you can move into a healthier future. Contact Bayview Recovery today at 855.478.3650 to learn how this treatment option can support you.
The Effects of Trauma
Since traumatic incidents often occur in childhood, not only have their effects been very long-lived, but also the likelihood of these memories being repressed is extremely high. A trauma therapy program can help individuals piece together the events from their past and confront their true feelings about these circumstances. While this process can be intense and painful for most people, the rewards of finally achieving resolution can be immense.
Recognizing that trauma stemming from issues of violence or sexual assault are not normal aspects of everyone’s experience can also help enable and empower individuals to respond differently to similar incidents in the future. This may include avoiding or reporting future situations that can significantly safeguard the individual’s emotional and physical wellbeing as well as their recovery.
Also, since the subject of trauma can be extremely difficult to talk about, and many individuals may have never voiced their stories or feelings before, trauma therapy gives them a safe environment to finally verbalize their experiences. These experiences may have many origins but frequently include:
Witnessing violence, such as an accident or crime
Being physically attacked
Victim of sexual abuse or assault
Victim of emotional abuse
Experiencing the on-going threat of violence
Military action
How Therapy Can Help You Find Peace
Often the symptoms of trauma can be long-lasting, typically because individuals have been unable to find a satisfying resolution to the traumatic event. Resolution can mean different things to different individuals. It often includes forgiveness or acceptance of past events that allow the individual to release their pain and move on.
Even if the source of the trauma is external, individuals often place blame on themselves and feel prolonged guilt or shame as a result. They may feel complicit in the past event, even if that feeling is inaccurate. For this reason, a trauma therapy program places a special emphasis on forgiveness of oneself, which can be difficult, particularly when the trauma happened a long time ago. By alleviating these feelings of responsibility and guilt, trauma survivors can begin to enter a phase of healing.
Finding the strength to forgive others is also an important aspect of the treatment process for trauma survivors. This can be especially difficult when the trauma involved violence or the threat of violence, either physical or emotional.
How Therapy Can Help You Deal With the Symptoms of Trauma
Untreated trauma can create conditions ripe for developing or fueling substance abuse. People often feel a range of emotions due to their trauma, such as:
Tremendous anger
Isolation
Hopelessness
Powerlessness
Stress when responding to experiences of trauma.
If these symptoms continue without treatment, the temptation to self-medicate can become extremely high. Trauma therapy focuses on helping clients find ways to manage these difficult challenges in the moment and to find healthy activities that both strengthen and comfort the individual so they can avoid relapse.
How a Trauma Therapy Program Fits Into a Comprehensive Recovery Plan
If your goal is long-term recovery, you will need a comprehensive treatment plan that includes many different modalities. Trauma therapy is a crucial aspect of rehab for many patients. We offer a wide range of therapies to accommodate our client’s broad experiences, unique personalities, and specific needs. In addition to trauma therapy, our offerings include:
Bayview Recovery also offers one of the highest staff-to-client ratios anywhere. Our comfortable, home-like environments allow you to focus on what matters most — getting well again. Call Bayview Recovery at 855.478.3650 today to learn more about our programs and begin your journey toward a lifetime of sobriety.
Survivors of trauma may not immediately identify themselves as such for many reasons. In some cases, the traumatic incidents may be too painful to discuss. In other instances, they may not recognize the events as traumatic, or they may unconsciously suppress these memories to protect themselves. It is the deep-seated nature of trauma that makes a trauma therapy program such a valuable part of the recovery process.