Session 1:
3) Research on your special- need group and post your findings. Remember to give credit to your sources.
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Risk factors that increase your vulnerability to trauma
Not all potentially traumatic events lead to lasting emotional and psychological damage. Some people recovered quickly from even the most tragic and shocking experiences. Others are devastated by experiences that, on the surface, appear to be less upsetting.
A number of risk factors make people vulnerable to emotional and psychological trauma. People are more likely to be traumatized by a stressful experience if they’re already under a heavy stress load or have recently suffered a series of losses.
People are also more likely to be traumatized by a new situation if they’ve been traumatized before – especially if the earlier trauma occurred in childhood.
Childhood trauma increases the risk of future trauma
Traumatic experiences in childhood can have a brutal and long-lasting effect. Children who have been traumatized see the world as a frightening and dangerous place. When childhood trauma is not resolved, this fundamental sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for further trauma.

Symptoms of emotional trauma
The symptoms may last for days, weeks, or even months after the trauma ended.
Emotional symptoms of trauma:
-Shock, denial, or disbelief -Anger, irritability, mood swings
-Guilt, shame, self-blame
-Feeling sad or hopeless
-Confusion, difficulty concentrating
-Anxiety and fear
-Withdrawing from others
-Feeling disconnected or numb
Physical symptoms of trauma:
-Insomnia or nightmares
-Being startled easily
-Racing heartbeat
-Aches and pains
-Fatigue
-Difficulty concentrating
-Edginess and agitation
-Muscle tension
These symptoms and feelings typically last from a few days to a few months, gradually fading as you process the trauma. But even when you’re feeling better, you may be disturbed from time to time by painful memories or emotions—especially in response to triggers such as an anniversary of the event or an image, sound, or situation that reminds you of the traumatic incident.

When to seek professional help for trauma
It’s a good idea to seek professional help if you’re:
-Having trouble functioning at home or work
-Suffering from severe fear, anxiety, or depression
-Unable to form close, satisfying relationships
-Having terrifying memories, nightmares, or flashbacks
-Avoiding more and more things that remind you of the trauma
-Emotionally numb and disconnected from others
-Using alcohol or drugs to feel better

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is the most serious form of emotional and psychological trauma. Its primary symptoms include intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoiding things that remind you of the traumatic event, and living in a constant state of “red alert”. If you have PTSD, it’s important to see a trauma specialist.

Finding a trauma specialist
Working through trauma can be scary, painful, and potentially retraumatizing. Because of the risk of retraumatization, this healing work is best done with the help of an experienced trauma specialist.
Finding the right therapist may take some time.
Choose a trauma specialist you feel comfortable with. Trust your instincts. If you don’t feel safe, respected, or understood – find another therapist. There should be a sense of trust and warmth between you and your therapist.

After meeting a potential trauma therapist, ask yourself these questions:
-Did you feel comfortable discussing your problems with the therapist?
-Did you feel like the therapist understood what you were talking about?
-Were your concerns taken seriously or were they minimized or dismissed?
-Were you treated with compassion and respect?
-Do you believe that you could grow to trust the therapist?

Treatments for emotional trauma
In order to heal from psychological and emotional trauma, you must face and resolve the unbearable feelings and memories you’ve long avoided. Otherwise they will return again and again, unbidden and uncontrollable.
Trauma treatment and healing involves:
-Processing trauma-related memories and feelings
-Discharging pent-up “fight-or-flight” energy
-Learning how to regulate strong emotions
-Building or rebuilding the ability to trust other people

Trauma therapy treatment approaches
The following therapies are commonly used in the treatment of emotional and psychological trauma:
-Somatic experiencing takes advantage of the body’s unique ability to heal itself. The focus of therapy is on bodily sensations, rather than thoughts and memories about the event. By concentrating on what’s happening in your body, you gradually get in touch with trauma-related energy and tension. From there, your natural survival instincts take over, safely releasing this pent-up energy through shaking, crying, and other forms of physical release.

-EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) incorporates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy with eye movements or other forms of rhythmic, left-right stimulation. In a typical EMDR therapy session, you focus on traumatic memories and associated negative emotions and beliefs while tracking your therapist’s moving finger with your eyes. These back-and-forth eye movements are thought to work by “unfreezing” traumatic memories, allowing you to resolve them.

-Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you process and evaluate your thoughts and feelings about a trauma. While cognitive-behavioral therapy doesn’t treat the physiological effects of trauma, it can be helpful when used in addition to a body-based therapy such as somatic experiencing or EMDR.

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