What is trauma-informed care? It is a form of care that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and their role in shaping an individual’s life after a trauma. Instead of asking, “What is wrong with a person?” trauma-informed care asks, “What has happened to a person?”
This fundamental shift in assessing a mental disorder or addiction is instrumental in providing the right diagnosis and treatment. Trauma-informed care is concerned with addressing the symptoms of trauma and helping an individual overcome or manage these symptoms. What is trauma-informed care? Learn about the trauma-informed care options available at Women’s Recovery by calling 833.754.0554.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is the response that a person has to a disturbing or distressing event. A traumatic can cause feelings of helplessness, diminish a person’s positive self-image, and make it difficult to cope with the subsequent symptoms. It can also hinder a person’s ability to feel a full range of emotions in all types of situations.
Traumatic events may include:
- Military combat
- Rape or sexual abuse
- Experiencing physical pain
- The death of a loved one
- Witnessing a natural disaster
- Growing up in a volatile home
A person who experiences a trauma may feel as though their life, integrity, or dignity are severely threatened. As a result, they often go into a flight or fight state to defend themselves.
Common Responses and Symptoms of Trauma
In most cases, a person who has witnessed or experienced a traumatic event will not go through the symptoms right away. It can take months or years for the symptoms to manifest. When they do occur, they can affect every area of a person’s life, including their emotional state, health, relationships, jobs, or ability to function daily.
Common symptoms of trauma may include:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Difficulty with relationships
- Changes in appetite and sleeping
- Depression or anxiety
- Drug or alcohol addiction
- Post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder
A person who exhibits two or more symptoms as a result of a traumatic event may need to get professional help at a trauma or addiction treatment center.
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care understands that person dealing with the symptoms of trauma needs a wide range of care that includes comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Trauma-informed care seeks to do the following:
Understand the Widespread Impact of Trauma
As the effects of trauma develop over time, they have an impact on virtually every area of a person’s life. This can be emotionally crippling, causing a person to have difficulty with certain circumstances or situations in their life.
Recognize the Symptoms of Trauma
A person who has PTSD or other symptoms of trauma may not realize that they are struggling with trauma-related problems. They may fail to make the connection between the trauma and the symptoms, or they may attribute the symptom to some other issue.
Create More Awareness About the Symptoms of Trauma
Treatment centers must not integrate policies, procedures, and practices that promote more awareness about the effects of trauma in patients. Treatment specialists must learn or relearn about trauma based on the most current data available.
Actively Avoid Re-Traumatization
Treatment specialists may make the mistake of re-traumatization by encouraging the individual to revisit the traumatic event. This can cause a person to have to relive the trauma all over again. Treatment centers need to discover and integrate other forms of therapy that prevent re-traumatization.
Learn More About Trauma-Informed Care At Women’s Recovery
What is trauma-informed care? Find out more by contacting Women’s Recovery. We offer a wide range of treatments for PTSD and other disorders associated with trauma. Contact Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 to find out more about your treatment options.
