Denver's women-only program for mental health, trauma and substance use.Call Admissions 833.754.0554
Call 833.754.0554Verify Insurance

How to deal with family trauma

Start by naming one concern you would like to discuss, then call 833.754.0554 for a gentle conversation.

If this is close to what you’ve been living with, start with one conversation. You don’t have to be in crisis, and you don’t have to know what to call it. That’s our job.

Created by Tim Francis, SUD and Mental Health Content Specialist

Updated

You do not have to minimize what happened or make every decision now.

Lounge with purple chairs and dried flowers

Original article

Difficulties with trust, emotions, sleep, relationships, or coping can be reasons to explore trauma and stressor-related concerns support for women and PTSD support for women, without deciding on a diagnosis yourself.

All families experience traumatic events differently. Various factors determine how a family copes with and recovers from a traumatic event. Almost all families have difficulty dealing with family trauma and adjusting to life after the traumatic event. For many families, a family trauma program in CO may provide solutions for managing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD that arise out of trauma.

Even in the closest families, a traumatic experience can create emotional scars that tear the home apart and create further conflict. Treatment focuses on meeting each person in the family where they are and bringing them into a state of healing to move forward with their lives. Regardless of how severe trauma may be, recovery is possible. Contact Women’s Recovery today at 833.754.0554 to learn more.

Plum chairs, table and flower painting

Tips for Dealing with Family Trauma

If you or your family is dealing with a traumatic event, you may need to take some steps to get help. You can do some things to manage the symptoms of any trauma-related mental health issues you have.

Learn More About Trauma

Trauma is an emotional or physical response to a disturbing or deeply distressing event. The event is so intense that it affects a person’s ability to cope with the trauma. Traumas can cause feelings of hopelessness, diminish self-image, and produce emotions that are difficult to control. One of the reasons post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common is that most people cannot cope with disturbing events. Common family traumas that lead to mental health issues or addiction may include:

  • Death of a family member
  • Divorce
  • Physical injury or severe pain
  • Illness
  • Moving to a new location

Since each person in the family is different, trauma can affect the family in different ways. Some members of the family may have an easier time dealing with family trauma than others. For those who cannot handle a family trauma, a women’s trauma treatment program is available to provide professional help.

Seating area with a sofa, round table, plants and artwork at Women’s Recovery

Recognize PTSD Symptoms

The first step in dealing with family trauma is recognizing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some of the most common symptoms of PTSD include:

  • Nightmares and flashbacks
  • Insomnia
  • Emotional outbursts
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Alcohol or drug addiction

PTSD symptoms are not always easy to recognize because they may not manifest until several months or years after the initial event. One sign may not connect to the initial trauma. However, multiple symptoms should raise a red flag that a family member cannot deal with the event.

Get Treatment for Trauma

If you are unsure whether you have PTSD, you can meet with a treatment specialist who can assess your situation and recommend treatment. A dual diagnosis treatment program is available to help if you have co-occurring disorders like PTSD and addiction. Dual diagnosis treatment programs allows therapists to identify the problems and provide the right treatment that promotes long-term recovery.

Two upholstered chairs and a bookshelf in a Women’s Recovery office

Some forms of traditional therapy are not appropriate for PTSD because they cause you to relive the event during your therapy sessions repeatedly. Trauma-informed care offers treatment that is more sensitive to your needs. A therapist focuses more on your current condition instead of exploring the past, which leads to further trauma.

Get Help for Trauma at Women’s Recovery

You do not have to live with a traumatic event for the rest of your life. Help is available at Women’s Recovery. We offer mental health treatment programs for all types of trauma-related mental disorders and addictions. Contact Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 to find out more about our family trauma program in CO. With the right trauma treatment program, healthily dealing with family trauma is possible.

Common questions

Explore articles on mental health and substance use and mental health treatment for women in Denver for related guidance. Call admissions when you want to discuss your own situation.

Call Admissions
01 Do I need to know whether my experience counts as trauma before calling?

You do not need to settle on a label before seeking support. If family experiences are affecting your sleep, relationships, substance use, emotions, or daily life, a conversation may help you understand your options. You remain in control of what you share and whether you take another step.

02 Will I have to tell my whole family story right away?

You can begin with what feels manageable now. Trauma-informed care should respect your pace, privacy, strengths, and choices rather than pressuring you to recount every detail. Early work may focus on present-day safety, emotional regulation, sleep, boundaries, or substance-related concerns before you decide whether to discuss painful experiences more deeply.

03 Does healing from family trauma require involving my relatives?

Family involvement can be helpful in some circumstances, but it is not automatically right for everyone. Your physical and emotional safety, privacy, and preferences matter. Support can help you consider whether contact, firmer boundaries, limited involvement, or individual healing makes the most sense for your situation.

04 Can I take leave from work for substance use treatment?

Treatment for substance use may qualify for Family and Medical Leave Act leave when federal requirements for inpatient care or continuing treatment are met and care is provided by, or referred by, a health care provider. Eligibility depends on your circumstances, so consider reviewing the Department of Labor guidance rather than assuming coverage.

05 How can I talk with someone in Denver?

You can call Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 for a conversation about what has been happening and what kind of support you are considering. Women’s Recovery is located at 3801 E Florida Ave, Ste 650, Denver, CO 80210. You may ask questions .

Evidence behind this page

Supporting health information

Read how we select health information sources and apply the Women’s Recovery editorial policy. These references provide general education and context; they do not establish an individual diagnosis, service, or treatment recommendation.

If you can't believe that yet, borrow my hope. Just long enough to find your own.

Women’s Recovery graduate

Start with one conversation. Tell us what you're carrying. We'll walk you through the next step and verify your benefits.