2-1-15 post:

Question/comment:

I’ve heard of people really changing after going through some sort of trauma.  It’s like they are not even the same person afterwards. Can you shed some light on this?

Response: Yes, a person will be very different after a traumatic experience.  They are many reasons and causes of trauma.  The degree and direction of that change will depend on the duration of the trauma, the intensity of the trauma, the age of the person, and various other factors. When a person undergoes trauma, there are changes in the pathways of the brain.  In addition, the person will have emotional reactions to the trauma , will attempt to make sense of their experience, and will have to deal with a host of new aspects of life such as flashbacks, anger, and fear as they relate to the trauma.  In the process of adjusting to life after the trauma, the person will form new core beliefs, which over time lead to new thought habits which then lead to a set of feelings and expectations.  The person will have a new set of beliefs about life, other people and self.  So, yes this person will be very different, not only immediately after the trauma but for the rest of their lives.

The crux of how a person continues in life after trauma is built around the help they get. Key questions include: is there competent help available to guide the person through the healing process and does the person avail themselves of the help?  Many people will turn to “self-medicating” with some form of addiction (such as drugs, alcohol, gambling or sex) after trauma to avoid the pain and confusion.  But, these behaviors only complicate matters and make healing more difficult. 

A medical or psychiatric professional will often prescribe an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication which needs to be monitored closely so that it does not become a life-long crutch or a substance of abuse.  And, they certainly need to be accompanied by psychotherapy. Some people may be able to benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and more natural relaxing agents such as some nutritional supplements, herbs or flower remedies.  These natural agents are often prescribed by and monitored by a competent alternative practitioner such as chiropractors or a naturopathic doctor. Some people combine psychotherapy, medication and natural remedies under the guidance of a combination of medical, psychiatric and alternative practitioners. Often yoga, tai chi, and meditation are very beneficial as well.

Each person will vary in what assistance they need in their healing process, the length of time it takes to heal and the course their healing takes. People can emerge from the healing process to thrive and live a strong, healthy life.  

A person’s reaction to intense trauma can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( this is a phenomenon found in some people who have experienced the horrors of combat or in some children who have been sexually abused).  Trauma can also lead to Multiple Personalities which technically falls under the category of Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Hope this gives you some understanding of the life changing event trauma can be and how it changes the course of a person’s life.  This can be true of even traumas such as automobile accidents or the tragic loss of a loved one.  There will be more in future blogs about the grief process after trauma, about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and about Multiple Personalities.