What should you not say to someone with trauma?

Things Never to Say to Trauma Survivors
  • It's Time to Move On.
  • It could not have been that bad.
  • Stop Being Negative.
  • If You Continue Dwelling On It, Then You'll Never Move On.
  • Do You Think You'll Ever Stop Being Depressed?
  • You're a Survivor, So Quit Being a Victim.
  • It Could Always Be Worse.
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What do you say to a Traumatised person?

Listen to them
  • Give them time. Let them talk at their own pace – it's important not to pressure or rush them.
  • Focus on listening. ...
  • Accept their feelings. ...
  • Don't blame them or criticise their reactions. ...
  • Use the same words they use. ...
  • Don't dismiss their experiences. ...
  • Only give advice if you're asked to.
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What should you not do when dealing with trauma?

It's normal to want to avoid thinking about a traumatic event. But not leaving the house, sleeping all the time, isolating yourself from loved ones, and using substances to escape reminders are not healthy ways to cope over time.
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How do you respond to someone's trauma?

Focus on non-judgmental, compassionate responses which help reduce shame. You might say "I'm so sorry you had to experience that," or "you didn't deserve that, and you deserve support now," or "I want you to know you're not alone," or "you did what you have to do to survive."
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What are the three responses to trauma?

The mental health community broadly recognizes four types of trauma responses: Fight. Flight. Freeze.
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What Not to Say to Someone With PTSD | Health



What trauma does to relationships?

Living through traumatic events may result in expectations of danger, betrayal, or potential harm within new or old relationships. Survivors may feel vulnerable and confused about what is safe, and therefore it may be difficult to trust others, even those whom they trusted in the past.
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How can you tell if someone is traumatized?

Symptoms of psychological trauma
  • Shock, denial, or disbelief.
  • Confusion, difficulty concentrating.
  • Anger, irritability, mood swings.
  • Anxiety and fear.
  • Guilt, shame, self-blame.
  • Withdrawing from others.
  • Feeling sad or hopeless.
  • Feeling disconnected or numb.
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How do you love someone with trauma?

How to help a partner with trauma
  1. Educate yourself and your partner on trauma. All of the information above is essential for developing compassion for your partner. ...
  2. Identify your partner's triggers (and your own) ...
  3. Learn to scale distress. ...
  4. Understand your own boundaries. ...
  5. Know when it's time to get help.
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What should you not say to a complex PTSD?

10 Things Not To Say To Someone With CPTSD
  • It wasn't that bad, was it?
  • That happened in the past, why are you still upset?
  • Calm down.
  • You're overreacting. It's been years now. Get over it.
  • You're too much right now.
  • What's wrong with you?
  • I don't believe anything you're saying.
  • You are crazy. You are dramatic.
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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.
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How do you release trauma?

It's sometimes used to describe the phenomenon of carrying past trauma or so-called negative experiences through life, relationships, or a career.
...
Here are a few ways to release repressed emotions:
  1. acknowledging your feelings.
  2. working through trauma.
  3. trying shadow work.
  4. making intentional movement.
  5. practicing stillness.
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How long does trauma last for?

Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic. A doctor who has experience helping people with mental illnesses, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, can diagnose PTSD.
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What to say to someone who is triggered?

How To Help A Friend Who's Been Triggered
  • Understand what triggers are in the first place. ...
  • Don't tell them they're exaggerating or doing it for attention. ...
  • Get them out of the situation as quickly as possible. ...
  • Reassure them that they are safe. ...
  • Don't treat them like they're crazy. ...
  • Get them to breathe.
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How does trauma affect behavior?

Children who have experienced complex trauma often have difficulty identifying, expressing, and managing emotions, and may have limited language for feeling states. They often internalize and/or externalize stress reactions and as a result may experience significant depression, anxiety, or anger.
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What is emotional trauma?

Emotional trauma is the end result of events or experiences that leave us feeling deeply unsafe and often helpless. It can result from a single event or be part of an ongoing experience, such as chronic abuse, bullying, discrimination or humiliation.
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What should you not say to someone with PTSD and anxiety?

What not to say to someone with complex PTSD
  • Get over it. ...
  • People have been through worse. ...
  • You're overreacting. ...
  • But that was so long ago. ...
  • Things weren't that bad. ...
  • My friend went through something similar, and she got over it. ...
  • You're too sensitive. ...
  • You just have to face your fears.
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Should you tell someone with PTSD to get over it?

A person with PTSD may need to talk about the traumatic event over and over again. This is part of the healing process, so avoid the temptation to tell your loved one to stop rehashing the past and move on. Instead, offer to talk as many times as they need.
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Can a person with PTSD love?

As much as you may want to, you can't love this disorder away. Armed with the right information, though, you can have a loving, committed, romantic relationship, even if PTSD is a third party in your partnership. It's still possible to have a rewarding relationship while also finding the personal support you need.
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How does trauma affect intimacy?

Trauma can make it extremely difficult to maintain relationships as it forces us to constantly remain in 'fight or flight' mode. Feeling constantly on edge and that you need to be on high alert at all times makes it extremely difficult to trust another person. Trauma looks different for every individual.
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What triggers trauma?

Anything that reminds you of what happened right before or during a trauma is a potential trigger. They're usually tied to your senses. You may see, feel, smell, touch, or taste something that brings on your symptoms. While triggers themselves are usually harmless, they cause your body to react as if you're in danger.
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Does love heal trauma?

Healthy relationships can help to reverse the negative changes that our brains make after a trauma. The field of mentalization focuses on how relationships improve the physical health of our brains, and believes that love and connection are the best predictors of healthy brains.
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What are the 5 signs of emotional suffering?

Know the 5 signs of Emotional Suffering
  • Personality change in a way that seems different for that person.
  • Agitation or displaying anger, anxiety or moodiness.
  • Withdrawal or isolation from others.
  • Poor self-care and perhaps engaging in risky behavior.
  • Hopelessness, or feelings of being overwhelmed and worthless.
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Can trauma change your personality?

A person may experience a change in their demeanor after experiencing a traumatic situation or witnesses an unpleasant event. These behavioral changes may be caused by a mental health condition, such as: Anxiety: Anxiety occurs when a person feels nervous or uneasy about a situation.
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What are the 5 signs of PTSD?

PTSD: Top 5 signs of PTSD you need to know
  • A life threatening event. This includes a perceived-to-be life threatening event. ...
  • Internal reminders of a traumatic event. These signs of trauma typically present as nightmares or flashbacks. ...
  • Avoidance of external reminders. ...
  • Altered anxiety state. ...
  • Changes in mood or thinking.
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Does trauma make you manipulative?

You may be drawn to abusive or unloving partners because of "trauma bonding": Trauma experience can make you addicted to emotional intensity, so you reject the friendly, honest, respectful person in favor of the inconsistent, rejecting, demeaning, or manipulative one.
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