The ManicaPost
Mental Health Issues
Dr Mazvita Machinga
Psychological trauma is a response to a terrible and dangerous event like an accident, robbery attack, rape, any form of abuse, natural disasters, and many others.
Many people have experienced traumatic situations at some point in their lives.
Trauma is lodged within us but remains hidden, making its presence known only via symptoms and pain.
Surprisingly a lot of psychological trauma happens in childhood. Children are vulnerable to being traumatised.
Things such as neglect and ill-treatment of children can be traumatising.
But we also have adults who are traumatised in homes, workplaces and in communities.
I am writing this article because of the many misconceptions about trauma and how a person can recover from this.
We find people who have gone through traumatic situations everywhere – in homes, workplaces, churches, hospitals, prisons and many other places.
The leading symptom of trauma is fear.
Traumatised people are above anything else scared, anxious, and sometimes depressed.
They are scared of getting close to certain people, of being abandoned, humiliated, and disgraced.
They may be afraid of travelling, of sexual relations and the broad sense of the world, etcetera.
Trauma colours one’s view of reality. Memories of trauma often get compartmentalised in the brain.
Some traumatised people may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, chest pains, muscle pains and many others.
While most people recover from their experiences without needing professional help, a significant number of people continue to struggle.
The effects of trauma last for much longer.
They may end up developing a condition called post traumatic stress disorder in the long run.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
Remember, it is natural and normal to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation.
But if the effect of the trauma continues to incapacitate an individual’s day to day functioning months after the traumatic event, then someone needs professional intervention.
The following are best ways you can help someone who has been traumatised:
1. Be patient and understand that your loved one is hurting
2. Listen more and talk less
3. Be aware of the triggers that can make the wound of your loved one more painful
4. Help them say what they are afraid will happen to them in the future
5. Focusing and remaining stuck in the past will not help as we cannot change the past
6. Do not take traumatic symptoms personally, instead show empathy, for example after a sexual trauma one may have negative feelings toward sexual activities or anything to do with love relations.
So show understanding.
7. Do not pressure or force one to talk about it.
It is something that can be uncomfortable and difficult to put into words.
Talking when one is ready is also very therapeutic.
8. Check on them and tell them they have support and help them know they can recover from trauma.
9. Encourage them to report the case to authorities so that the perpetrator may be brought to book.
The following are some ways you can use to cope when you experience a traumatising situation:
1. As a person who has been traumatised you think that the world is terrifying, this is normal, and it’s okay to be upset.
Talk about your feelings with trusted and caring loved ones.
2. Memories about the trauma will not go away, you need to process them in a safe space.
3. Processing trauma usually works when you hook up your broken and distorted brain to another clearer sighted perspective – developing a new way of seeing situations.
Re-storying and coming up with a future you like to have helps you to move forward.
4. Put some beliefs to rest and move on with a new future
5. Traumatic experiences produce memories that are distressing, that can get triggered by outside happenings so learn to express any discomfort you have and avoid triggering situations
6. Overcoming trauma starts with the small steps, resolving the disturbing but inevitable memories and processing them.
Recovery is possible
7. Be conscious of not getting stuck in the “why did this happen?” “what if”, or insist on saying, “why doesn’t anyone understand or get it.”
8. Use your spiritual resources to help yourself to be stronger. Seek professional mental health support.
Remember there is never a good enough reason for someone to traumatise you.
Also, remember people handle difficult situations differently so journey with someone who is affected.
Ask them how you could be of help.
So do you know someone who has difficulty in concentrating, experiences anger, irritability, frequent mood swings along with continuous anxiety and fear?
Do they often feel overwhelmed, is withdrawing from others, feels sad, hopeless, or feels disconnected, fearful or down?
The person may have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event in their life. Help is available.
◆ Dr Mazvita Machinga is a qualified psychotherapist and for more information and psychotherapy. Call 0771754519 Or Toll free helpline 08080482
