Southern California’s Leading Treatment Center for Co-Occurring Trauma

Learn more about co-occurring trauma treatment at Montecatini Eating Disorder Treatment Center in Southern California

Many individuals hold onto the preconceived notion that trauma is something that only occurs in those who have served in war or have suffered extreme medical emergencies. While both of these situations can cause trauma, there are many more instances that can trigger this type of psychological distress.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), trauma is the emotional response to a terrible event. In addition to being engaged in military combat and being faced with intense medical emergencies, other events can lead to trauma including acts of terrorism, automobile accidents, physical or emotional abuse, serious illnesses, the death or loss of a loved one, and verbal or online harassment. Those who have gone through one or more of these events tend to experience shock or denial after the immediate occurrence. However, when an individual keeps experiencing upsetting symptoms including flashbacks, recurrent memories, physical pain, and irrational fears that are not caused by the event, it is likely that trauma is present.

Trauma has been linked to a number of self-defeating behaviors, such as eating disorders, suicide, and self-harm. However, with the appropriate intervention, those who battle with trauma and its symptoms can learn how to manage the side effects of this disorder, work through their emotions in more productive ways, and defeat the psychological upset that can cause severe destruction to their lives if left untreated.

Trauma statistics

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that between 3% and 4% of adults nationwide will experience trauma within any given 12-month period of time, with 35% of those cases being considered severe. Sadly, only half of the individuals who suffer from trauma obtain the help they need. According to the National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention, one in four children in the country will go through or witness a traumatic event before age four, and more than 60% of children will be exposed to violence or crime before age 17. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that 10% of women in the country and 4% of men in the country will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lifetimes.

Signs and symptoms of trauma

Trauma does not cause the same symptoms to develop in everyone. The signs that an individual who is afflicted with trauma will display depends on a number of factors. However some of the most common symptoms of this disorder can include:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Acting in a dangerous or reckless manner
• Abusing alcohol or another drug
• Avoiding activities or places that remind one of the traumatic event
• Having exaggerated responses to stimuli that remind one of the traumatic event
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Unexplained outbursts of anger or aggressiveness
• Decline in performance at work or in school

Physical symptoms:

• Headaches and abdominal pain
• Sleep problems, including disturbingly vivid nightmares

Cognitive symptoms:

• Experiencing flashbacks, or recurrent memories of the traumatic incident
• Suicidal ideation
• Depersonalization
• Inability to focus or concentrate

Psychosocial symptoms:

• Dissociation
• Anhedonia
• Dramatic mood swings
• Emotional detachment
• Depression
• Agitation and irritability

Effects of trauma

Trauma that goes untreated can have terrible impacts on all areas of an individual’s life. Some of the effects that trauma can cause can include:

• Homelessness
• Self-harm
• Suicidal ideation
• High blood pressure
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Digestive problems
• Injuries related to reckless behavior
• Academic failure
• Job loss and chronic unemployment
• Sexual dysfunction
• Depression
• Family discord
• Ruined interpersonal relationships
• Social withdrawal and self-isolation

Why consider treatment for trauma

When trauma goes untreated, a series of severe emotional and psychological consequences can develop. Those individuals whose trauma has left them feeling out of control within their lives, or unworthy of happiness and health, might develop symptoms of an eating disorder, participate in self-harm practices, or behave in reckless and possibly deadly ways. Untreated trauma can also trigger the onset of anxiety, depression, and paranoia, all of which can make going to work, school, or upholding personal responsibilities nearly impossible. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair that can come along with untreated trauma can make one feel it necessary to isolate from the rest of the world, which, when combined with other mental health disorders, can cause homelessness, unemployment, and financial ruin.

When individuals who are grappling with trauma have the opportunity to work with professionals who can provide them with help, their despair can be turned into hope for the future. Comprehensive residential treatment can offer individuals struggling with trauma the psychological, medical, and therapeutic support needed to reclaim control of their lives once and for all.

To obtain more information about trauma treatment, and to learn how it is connected to eating disorders, please reach out to us. We are happy to answer all the questions you or your loved ones might have and can help you decide if Montecatini is the center best suited for your needs.