Holistic Therapy and Trauma
We don’t have to be soldiers in war to have encountered trauma. The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing, and that overwhelm people’s ability to cope, leaving them feeling powerless. Often it happens to people that experience circumstances that are outside the realm of typical human events.
Effects of Trauma on your well being
The word trauma is often associated with severe violations against an individual and catastrophic events, such as childhood sexual abuse, physical violence, car accidents, war and natural disasters. The adverse mental, emotional and physical effects from such events can often result in what is typically classified as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Trauma is a development obstacle, and it can imbalance us intellectually, emotionally and physically. With trauma, there is a breakdown or a split between the mind and the body, and that is why helping people overcome childhood trauma and/or a single event in adulthood is an integrative and healing process.
How therapy can help with trauma
Sometimes in an attempt to cope, individuals can become disconnected from their physical and emotional experience and experience poor self-confidence. Becoming withdrawn is usually experienced as not feeling part of the real world.The person suddenly loses their sense of who they are or what they are doing. At other times individuals can engage in self-destructive behaviours or consume addictive substances to self-soothe and cope.
Therefore, body-psychotherapy is the most effective form of trauma treatment. It can enable people who have experienced trauma to be more at ease in their bodies, thus reinforcing their sense self-confidence as well as feeling more balanced mentally and emotionally.