What is Trauma and where does it come from?
Trauma can come in many different forms. More often than not, it comes from abuse, but abuse can also come in various forms. For instance, trauma can be caused by physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. It can affect how you feel and react to certain scenarios. Trauma changes how you feel about yourself and how you relate to others. Women who have gone through various forms of abuse or other traumas have a higher risk of developing a mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It’s always important to remember that the trauma and abuse you may have experienced is never your fault.
How Does Trauma Relate to Mental Health?
Trauma can happen after abusive scenarios happen. It can be an event in which you experienced or witnessed physical or emotional pain. These events can have long-lasting effects on your overall well-being, including your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Some of the mental illnesses or health conditions someone may experience after trauma are as follows:
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Misusing alcohol or drugs
Borderline personality disorder
The long-lasting effects of trauma can be as follows:
Severe anxiety, stress, or fear
Abuse of alcohol or drugs
Depression
Eating disorders
Self-injury
Suicide
How Do I Know If My Mental Health Is Affected By Past Abuse or Trauma?
It can be difficult to understand or acknowledge where your abuse and trauma can affect you. However, some of the common signs of your mental health being affected by past abuse or trauma could be increased anxiety, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. , quick changes in mood including anger, irritability, and depression. Past trauma can also cause changes in appetite, and sometimes abusing drugs or alcohol. It’s also always important to consult your doctor if you feel like these changes are affecting your daily life.
References:
Abuse, trauma, and mental health | Office on Women’s Health. (n.d.). Women’s Health. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/abuse-trauma-and-mental-health#:%7E:text=Trauma%20can%20affect%20how%20you,abuse%20are%20never%20your%20fault.
