Here’s the thing about trauma: even though the event happened in the past, we work with trauma in the present moment. It causes pain in the present moment, it changes your nervous system in the present moment. The hurt isn’t just “in the past” it’s right here, in your body and emotions right now. In the last video we talked about 4 ways traumatic memories differ from regular memories. In this video we’ll cover 4 ways you can work with those memories in the present moment so they don’t bother you so much.

When traumatic memories are integrated and consolidated, real healing can happen. This might look like someone being able to say “This terrible thing happened, but right now, I am safe”. And when they remember the event, they can calm their mind and body in the present moment. The memory becomes a memory instead of a flashback where they re-experience a terrible event as if it’s happening again.
As we talked about in the last video traumatic memories differ from regular memories in 4 ways:
They don’t naturally soften over time, they stay intense and vivid
Traumatic memories are often sensory- it FEELS like the event in sights, sounds, smells.
The passage of time is distorted-it feels like you’re living it over again in the present
They are often fragmented, they don’t follow a sequential order, some information may be missing or blocked

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life’s direction.
And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.
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Unhealed trauma can affect our brain and lives in many ways and unfortunately will not die down on its own. After a traumatic event, it is important to work on the necessary healing from our emotional trauma. But before we can heal, we have to be aware of how our trauma is affecting us so that we can get to the root cause of our trauma. So, here are 5 ways unhealed trauma affects us.

#trauma #psych2go #unhealed trauma

Related Videos:
9 Signs You Have Unhealed Trauma

9 Signs You’re Dealing with Childhood Trauma

The 5 Types of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

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References
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2014. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 57.) Chapter 3, Understanding the Impact of Trauma.

Millán K. “Signs and Symptoms of PTSD”. Black Bear Lodge. Black Bear Rehab. N.d.

Nielsen B. “How Unhealed Trauma Affects Highly Sensitive People”. Highly Sensitive Refuge. 10 February 2020.

“Past trauma may haunt your future health”. Harvard Women’s Health Watch. Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School. February 2019.
Yoder C. “Unaddressed trauma & how it impacts us”. Peace After Trauma. 2018.
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Dr Treisman talks about the importance of forging good relationships and effective society-wide systems when it comes to understanding and healing trauma.
Dr Karen Treisman, a Clinical Psychologist, has worked across the globe with groups ranging from adopted children to former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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