Do I have trauma or am I overreacting?

Emotional overreactions are a common symptom of trauma. A victim of trauma might redirect their overwhelming emotions towards others, such as family and friends. Because these unresolved emotions are always bubbling beneath the surface, any incident that brings feelings forward can unleash these pent-up emotions.

Is it trauma or am I just dramatic?

People who go through a traumatic experience go through a lot of mental and physical stress that can make it hard for them to recover without professional help. Drama on the other hand consists of our personal reaction to things and the way that we interpret events that aren't objectively painful.

How do I know if I'm traumatized?

Intrusive memories

Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event. Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks) Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event. Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.

Can I be traumatized and not know it?

Most people are indeed entirely unaware that they are suffering from trauma at all. Many put their symptoms and negative experiences down to stress which is often vague and unhelpful, particularly when trying to get to the core of the problem.

Is overreacting a symptom of PTSD?

If you have PTSD, you may be more likely to react to any stress with "full activation." You may react as if your life or self were threatened. This automatic response of irritability and anger in those with PTSD can create serious problems in the workplace and in family life.

Do You Have A Mental Illness OR Are You Overreacting?

Do I have PTSD or am I just traumatized?

The main difference between PTSD and the experience of trauma is important to note. A traumatic event is time-based, while PTSD is a longer-term condition where one continues to have flashbacks and re-experiencing the traumatic event.

Why do I have symptoms of trauma but no trauma?

When Symptoms Occur Without a History of Trauma. It is important to understand that trauma can be inherited independently of difficult family circumstances. A child can develop anxiety, depression, or other stress-related issues such as PTSD as a result of an inherited vulnerability rather than direct trauma.

What does undiagnosed trauma look like?

If the trauma is left untreated, one can experience nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, depression, phobias, substance abuse, panic attacks, anger, irritability, or hopelessness. The individual might also begin to have physical symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress, rapid heartbeat, or extreme fatigue.

What does unprocessed trauma look like?

A feeling of shame; an innate feeling that they are bad, worthless, or without importance. Suffering from chronic or ongoing depression. Practicing avoidance of people, places, or things that may be related to the traumatic event; this also can include an avoidance of unpleasant emotions.

Am I emotionally traumatized?

Emotional Trauma Symptoms

Psychological Concerns: Anxiety and panic attacks, fear, anger, irritability, obsessions and compulsions, shock and disbelief, emotional numbing and detachment, depression, shame and guilt (especially if the person dealing with the trauma survived while others didn't)

Does talking about trauma make it worse?

If someone is already thinking about and ruminating on their traumatic past all the time, without trying to avoid or block it out, doing exposure work of talking about it more will actually make it worse and keep them stuck. So, with rumination, you do the opposite of exposure work.

How do I know what kind of trauma I have?

How do I know if I had trauma as a child?

You might have difficulties trusting, low self-esteem, fears of being judged, constant attempts to please, outbursts of frustration, or social anxiety symptoms that won't let up. Can childhood trauma be healed?

Do I act childish because of trauma?

When trauma impairs your ability to develop full emotional maturity, this is known as arrested psychological development. Trauma can “freeze” your emotional response at the age you experienced it. When you feel or act emotionally younger than your actual age, this is known as age regression.

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.

How do you identify unhealed childhood trauma?

What happens when you ignore trauma?

The symptoms of unresolved trauma may include, among many others, addictive behaviors, an inability to deal with conflict, anxiety, confusion, depression or an innate belief that we have no value.

Why do I feel like I have trauma but I can't remember?

Dissociative amnesia occurs when a person blocks out certain events, often associated with stress or trauma, leaving the person unable to remember important personal information.

Why don't I feel anything when I think about my trauma?

This frequently occurs when people are overwhelmed, and the body switches to survival mode, resulting in numbness or blankness. “Not feeling” is also a protective psychic defense during a time of crisis. (See The Body Keeps the Score, a wonderful book about trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.)

Why does my trauma not feel real?

The “unreal” quality intruding on reality is likely dissociation. Essentially, it is a response that often affects trauma survivors, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When a person suffers PTSD dissociation, the brain copes with an overwhelming experience by disconnecting from it.

Can you have PTSD without Realising?

Complex PTSD and emotional flashbacks

You might react to events in the present as if they are causing these feelings, without realising that you are having a flashback.

Do I have PTSD or am I paranoid?

When left untreated, paranoia can progress into delusions. ' Hypervigilance from PTSD can often be mistaken for paranoia as it tends to over-estimate the potential for danger at any given moment. However, unlike someone suffering with paranoia, a hypervigilant person is usually aware of their symptoms.

Can you have PTSD without realizing it?

Undiagnosed PTSD is Common

It may seem obvious in hindsight, but it is definitely possible to be experiencing the symptoms of this condition for years (sometimes decades) without realizing it. Undiagnosed PTSD is common.

What does untreated childhood trauma look like?

Without treatment, repeated childhood exposure to traumatic events can affect the brain and nervous system and increase health-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, eating disorders, substance use, and high-risk activities).

At what age can a child remember trauma?

Studies show that babies can recall traumatic events, particularly those that occur during the first year of life. While they may not remember the exact details of what happened, they can retain a feeling of the experience, shaping their behavior and responses later.