Specialties

Some mental illnesses have a biological or genetic component. But others are the result of overwhelming experiences that exceed our normal ability to cope. When this happens, people may experience post-traumatic stress, dissociation, or other trauma reactions – normal reactions to abnormal situations.

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Overwhelming fear and pain, physical or emotional trauma, violence, and abuse can have far-reaching effects. Even though the experience is in the past, the feelings of loss, helplessness, fear, and pain can continue for years and intrude on the present. Feelings of panic can come out of nowhere. A random trigger can cause a flashback or overreaction. Past trauma is often at the root of chronic anger, depression, fear, anxiety, addiction, self-harm, and other acting-out behaviors to escape the threat and stop the pain.

Some common reactions to trauma include:

• Acute stress reactions (fight or flight)

• Flashbacks, nightmares, and triggers

• Chronic pain, headaches, and exhaustion

• Trust or abandonment issues

• Loss of identity and values​

• Depression and anxiety

• Addictions, obsessions, or compulsions

• Suicidal thoughts or self-destructive behavior

• Emotional numbing, shutting down, or zoning out

• Feeling hypervigilant, keyed-up, on-edge, or agitated

• Feeling disoriented, disconnected, broken, or unreal

• Memory gaps, lost time, or out-of-body experiences

• Mood swings, overreactions, or feeling out of control

• Avoidance and isolation

• Unhealthy boundaries

• Shame and guilt