Does talking about trauma make it worse?

Talking about personal trauma can force you to revisit painful memories. Forming coherent thoughts about traumatic experiences can trigger flashbacks, nightmares, and panic.

Is it okay to talk about your trauma?

rather than increase, and that others can be trusted to understand and help. In addition to avoidance as a defense, those with traumatic histories have typically developed negative cognitions, interpretations, and mental models.

What happens when you talk about trauma?

When individuals talk about painful experiences with a safe, supportive, and attuned human; they learn that the trauma can be dealt with and difficult emotions can be tolerated. Memories can be organized in a healthy way rather than developing problematic beliefs and self-blame (e.g., “this is all my fault.”).

Can talking about trauma be counterproductive?

However, casually dropping information about your trauma into a brief conversation is unproductive and problematic, she says. "Someone who just dumps their trauma onto others— they're actually reliving that trauma. A trained therapist would help you understand the story, how to learn from it and move forward.

Can you talk about your trauma too much?

While venting to friends, family and social media followers can feel helpful, sometimes oversharing your trauma can turn people away. Understanding what trauma dumping is and why you do it can help you maintain relationships and find the help you need.

Trauma Therapy Makes You Feel Worse Before You Feel Better | HealthyPlace

What is trauma dumping vs venting?

Venting is a healthy way to share negative emotions and reduce stress. But with trauma dumping, you overshare in a way that makes the listener feel overwhelmed or ignored.

What is a trauma dump?

Trauma dumping refers to sharing a traumatic story without thinking about how it will affect the listener, or oversharing in an inappropriate context.

Why do people downplay their trauma?

As mentioned, downplaying trauma can be a coping mechanism. To function in your daily life, you might feel the need to convince yourself that a particular event wasn't that bad. It may seem much more comfortable to ignore your emotions and compartmentalize your negative thoughts.

Why don't people want to talk about trauma?

The reasons for this are multi-fold and likely include shame, perceived stigma of being a “victim,” past negative disclosure experiences and fears of being blamed or told that the event was somehow their fault.

Does avoiding trauma make it worse?

Using avoidance as your main way of coping with traumatic memories can make PTSD symptoms worse and make it harder to move on with your life.

When talking about trauma a trigger is?

A trauma trigger is a psychological stimulus that prompts involuntary recall of a previous traumatic experience. The stimulus itself need not be frightening or traumatic and may be only indirectly or superficially reminiscent of an earlier traumatic incident, such as a scent or a piece of clothing.

Do traumatized people know they are traumatized?

Trauma happens to everyone.

It can be physical, mental, or emotional. Many do not realize they have had a traumatic experience because most believe “a trauma” is only something dramatic or changes their world entirely.

Why do clients smile when talking about trauma?

Smiling when discussing trauma is a way to minimize the traumatic experience. It communicates the notion that what happened “wasn't so bad.” This is a common strategy that trauma survivors use in an attempt to maintain a connection to caretakers who were their perpetrators.

What should you not say to a complex trauma?

Invalidate or dismiss their experiences. Compare their experiences. Blame them. Shame them.

How do you heal trauma without talking about it?

EMDR therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma therapy developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. The therapy is unusual in that it doesn't involve much talking — it aims to help you process and release traumatic memories through eye movements.

Should you tell people your trauma?

Key points. Many people benefit from talking about past trauma, and several cultures and professions encourage such sharing. Some people choose not to discuss trauma. Instead, they focus on other people's issues or more pleasant topics, keeping traumas hidden.

Is it healthy to bond over trauma?

What's key to understand about a trauma bonding relationship is that it can't be healthy because it is not equal. “Oftentimes when folks are trauma bonding, it may look and feel safe for some,” says Eborn. “But there is a lot of inconsistency within the relationship, and it can be extremely dysfunctional.

What happens when you don't talk about trauma?

Typically people who are at their worst have suffered trauma, particularly trauma that has not been addressed or acknowledged. Your mental health will most certainly decline if you don't have a place to put it. Here's the truth about anxiety, depression, PTSD: it won't kill you, but not talking about it might.

What happens if you don't process trauma?

Neglected past trauma can have a large effect on your future health. The psychological and physical responses it triggers can make you susceptible to severe health conditions including stroke, heart attack, weight problems, diabetes, and cancer, according to a Harvard Medical School research study.

How does unhealed trauma affect you?

Cognitive Signs of Unhealed Trauma

You may experience nightmares or flashbacks that take you back to the traumatic event. Furthermore, you may struggle with mood swings, as well as disorientation and confusion, which can make it challenging to perform daily tasks.

What does unresolved trauma do to a person?

Unresolved trauma puts people at increased risk for mental health diagnoses, which run the gamut of anxiety, depression and PTSD. There are physical manifestations as well, such as cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure, stroke or heart attacks.

Does trauma decrease intelligence?

There were significant differences in the impact of childhood trauma on IQ across the 3 groups. Exposure in HCS was associated with a nearly 5-point reduction in IQ (−4.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −7.98 to −1.73, P = . 002), a lesser reduction in siblings (−2.58; 95% CI: −4.69 to −0.46, P = .

What are signs of suppressed trauma?

What are the 7 stages of trauma?

How do you know if you are still trauma bonded?

Signs of trauma bonding

They may also: agree with the abusive person's reasons for treating them badly. try to cover for the abusive person. argue with or distance themselves from people trying to help, such as friends, family members, or neighbors.