Trauma is an impactful event or action against you that can change your mental and physical development. Many instances could be considered traumatic and could result in physical repercussions. Experiencing trauma in your childhood, teenage years, or adulthood will all have an effect on the remainder of your life. A common question is if trauma impacts our physical health.
While not all trauma occurs in a physical sense (verbal abuse, emotional distress, financial struggles, or death) the psychological effects can appear in a physical form. This blog will share just a few ways that traumatic events impact physical health.
Impacts On Your Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response
The biggest impact of trauma is the production of adrenaline and cortisol. Unresolved traumatic experiences can cause your fight, flight, or freeze response to occur during non-threatening situations. Experiencing trauma will alter your brain structure which can cause you to have a response to small instances like leaving the house, driving, swimming, fireworks, and more. This protective response produced in your brain will be heightened, making you feel constantly on edge.
Physical Health Impacts Possible From Trauma
Different illnesses or chronic conditions can form out of trauma. Especially unresolved trauma, heightened hormone levels, and stress can lead to the issues listed below.
Gastrointestinal Problems
Traumatic events can often lead to gut problems. Digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and other disorders are caused because of the gut and brain connection.
Sleep Disturbances
Stress disorders often disrupt sleep patterns leading to insomnia or nightmares. Poor sleep often worsens other conditions or increases the risk of diseases like cardiovascular disease and heart disease.
Autoimmune Disorders
Trauma patients have often been linked to developing autoimmune disorders. This is where the immune system attacks the body and is not able to fight off infections. Conditions like Hashimoto’s, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune disorders.
Chronic Stress
Since the fight or flight response is heightened, your body is in a constant state of stress. Chronic stress conditions can lead to inflammation, weakened immunity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Headaches
Dissociation, lack of sleep, and heightened cortisol production can cause headaches. Lack of sleep or proper nutrients from stress can also lead to headaches in trauma holders.
Using Substances To Cope
Not all trauma holders will experience physical repercussions, the stress or flashbacks could lead individuals to use substances or alcohol to cope. Using drugs and alcohol can help numb a person to the fear they developed or stop certain physical reactions from happening. This becomes a larger problem as substances will harm our health over time. Especially harder drugs and frequent alcohol consumption, which have been known to cause brain, liver, and kidney damage.
Making Irrational Decisions
Impacted self-awareness, self-neglect, and self-harm can all result from trauma. Some individuals start to participate in risky behaviors or neglect their responsibilities. Adjusting to life after trauma or PTSD can be difficult, so it may be hard to take part in tasks for yourself like bathing, eating healthy food, exercising, or sleeping.
Coping with difficult memories and emotions may cause individuals to misuse substances, have suicidal thoughts, or dissociate. All of these things could lead to dangerous decisions that a person may not otherwise make. Putting yourself at risk can also cause severe health issues or wounds.
Manifestations Of Trauma Can Occur At Any Time
The effects of trauma may not be noticeable right away, or may not appear for many years. Trauma experienced in childhood may not show up in physical responses until adulthood. Our brain can suppress memories that we may not remember until attending therapy or speaking with a family member.
There are many ways that trauma can manifest in your life, which is why it is important to heal from it with the help of a licensed professional. The negative impacts of trauma extend to more than just the brain.
Trauma Therapy From Ogden Psychological Services
Ogden Psychological Services has therapists who specialize in trauma treatment. Working with a therapist one-on-one will help you to process difficult emotions and remember instances that your mind has suppressed. The therapist will use evidence-based techniques to help you face the trauma in a controlled and safe environment.
OPS is happy to serve the Northern Utah community with high-quality mental health care. We believe that a good therapist can help you heal, mentally and physically, from the trauma that has happened to you. We also treat other issues including anxiety, anger, depression, ADHD, postpartum depression, and more. Reach out to us to schedule your first appointment.
