Trauma & Other Underlying Causes

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a deeply disturbing or distressing experience that can profoundly affect an individual’s mental, emotional and physical well-being. Traumatic experiences can take any number of forms, occur at any stage of life and vary significantly in their intensity or impact on each person. They may be clear, isolated events or several small instances that build up over time. There may also be experiences that do not seem very traumatizing from an objective viewpoint but have impacted you or your loved one regardless.

Some examples of the ways that trauma can manifest include:

• Abuse or neglect: Physical, emotional or sexual abuse, as well as neglect, can leave lasting psychological scars and negatively impact a person’s sense of self-worth, safety and ability to form healthy relationships.
• Disaster or a sudden accident: Natural disasters, car accidents and other unexpected catastrophes can lead to feelings of helplessness, vulnerability or ongoing fear and anxiety.
• Violence or combat: Exposure to violence, whether through personal experience or as a witness, and involvement in combat situations, can result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and other psychological issues.
• Loss and grief: The death of a loved one, a significant life change or the end of an important relationship can cause intense emotional pain and grief.
• Heartbreak or abandonment: Betrayal, rejection or abandonment in personal or romantic relationships can trigger complicated feelings of worthlessness, sadness, loss and anxiety, which may have long-lasting effects on an individual’s future relationships and overall self-esteem.
• Illness or injury: A serious or chronic illness, a severe injury, or a life-altering disability can cause emotional distress, changes in self-image and challenges in adjusting to a new reality.
• Stress or burnout: Chronic stress from work, family or personal life and experiencing burnout can lead to physical and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and a decreased sense of well-being.
• Intergenerational trauma: Sometimes, trauma can be passed down from a survivor to their descendants in the form of intergenerational trauma. This may lead to genetically inherited trauma responses that can be linked to hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, physical health issues and other concerns.

This list is not exhaustive — other causes of trauma might include bullying, a difficult pregnancy, divorce, growing up in a dysfunctional household and more. Trauma can be the result of any distressing event that negatively impacts one’s mental and emotional stability.

At The Guest House, we know that living through a traumatic experience leaves a permanent mark on a person. The hope is that one day this mark can become a sign of your strength and growth, but for many, the transformation takes time and support. It’s important to be able to recognize when trauma manifests itself in ways that are potentially harmful, and even more important to know when to ask for help. By recognizing the diverse nature of trauma and understanding its impact on individuals and communities, our goal is to foster greater empathy for those affected and create a more supportive environment for healing.

Trauma and Self-Defeating Behaviors

Given the diversity and depth of traumatic experiences, the significant impact that trauma can have on an individual’s thoughts, feelings and actions is not surprising. Often, the emotional turmoil of carrying trauma results in harmful or unhealthy outward behaviors that negatively impact a person’s life. These self-defeating or self-destructive behaviors may cause changes or declines in the individual’s health, relationships, outlook or personality. If you or your loved one has been through a traumatic experience (recently or in the past) and has not developed effective coping mechanisms, you might notice:

• Substance abuse: Trauma can lead to a reliance on substances such as alcohol, drugs, or even food as a means to numb the emotional pain or create a false sense of control.
• Depression or anxiety: Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or excessive worry can be a sign of unaddressed trauma. These feelings may interfere with daily activities and overall quality of life.
• Phobias: Irrational fears or aversions can develop as a response to trauma, especially if the traumatic event involved a specific object, situation or context.
• Compulsive behaviors: Repeated behaviors that a person feels compelled to perform, often driven by intrusive thoughts, can stem from trauma. This might include gambling, disordered eating, self-harm, compulsive behaviors related to sex or relationships and more.
• Poor self-care: Neglecting personal hygiene, nutrition or sleep can be a sign of trauma’s toll on one’s self-worth and energy levels.
• Sudden emotional outbursts: Unpredictable, intense reactions, especially in response to particular triggers that recall past trauma, can indicate unresolved emotional distress.
• Reluctance to discuss certain topics: Avoiding conversations about certain subjects or showing signs of distress when they’re brought up can be a coping mechanism to avoid reliving traumatic experiences.
• Irritability or mood swings: Excessive irritability or unpredictable mood changes may be a sign of the emotional instability often associated with trauma.
• Personality changes: Personality changes, including a sudden lack of interest in usual activities, shifts in behavior or abnormal social patterns, can be a sign of trauma’s impact on one’s sense of self.

These behaviors can be harmful in the short and long term, both to the person experiencing them and to those around them. Someone whose mental and emotional state is influenced by trauma might have trouble understanding the consequences of their actions and habits or might not even realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary.

Trauma can be very deeply seated in the psyche and, as such, can be hard to identify. People often build up protective barriers and may dissociate to shield themselves from the mental and emotional repercussions of trauma, which can cause feelings of depersonalization and a disconnection from the outside world. It can also make it difficult to recall specific details of the traumatic experience. While this might be an effective coping mechanism at the time, it can continue to arise even after the trauma is over and interfere with daily life.

Additionally, traumatic experiences are, by definition, difficult topics to discuss, so they often become bottled up instead of being processed in a healthy way. That’s why recognizing these signs and understanding the underlying causes of trauma and self-defeating behaviors is the first step toward seeking help and initiating the journey of healing.

When to Seek Treatment for Trauma

It is always a good idea to seek professional help after a traumatic experience. It’s also important to understand that trauma isn’t something one should manage alone — many therapists are specifically trained in treating individuals who have experienced trauma, both recently and in the past, and are experts at guiding them through their unique healing journeys. They’re equipped with the skills and tools to aid in processing traumatic experiences and can help develop healthier, more effective ways to cope. Of course, it is ideal to get treatment as soon as possible to prevent the internalization or development of self-destructive coping mechanisms — if you or your loved one has recently been through something that is affecting them, you should schedule an appointment with a therapist right away.

But it’s not always this simple. In many cases, trauma comes to light when a person seeks treatment for something else — perhaps addiction or a mental health disorder — and realizes that past trauma is at the source of their concerns. For this reason, you should always be aware of the effects that trauma may have on an individual, and always encourage those who are showing signs of self-destructive behaviors to get treatment and discover what is at the root of their problem. These intricate connections highlight the importance of holistic treatment approaches that consider all aspects of an individual’s mental, emotional and physical health.