Is Telepsychiatry as Effective as In Person Therapy?
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4 Signs You Have Unresolved Trauma
Not everyone has the same response to violence, abuse, loss, or neglect. Trauma can have different ways of manifesting, especially if you didn’t recognize or address it at the time. Unresolved trauma can show up years after the fact, making your life a struggle.
Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Ifeanyi Olele of Genesis Psychiatric Solutions offers diagnosis and help for stressor- and trauma-related disorders. Here’s what you should know.
Causes of unresolved trauma
The word trauma can mean many different things, including:
- Verbal or physical abuse
- Living through a war or genocide
- An accident such as a car wreck or a fall
- Loss of a friend or family member
If you never fully confront and resolve your trauma, you can end up with lasting effects that you may not even connect with past events.
Signs of unresolved trauma
There are four ways you can recognize unresolved trauma.
Emotional upheaval
If you’re suffering from otherwise unexplained anxiety, mood swings, or other emotional symptoms, it could be a sign of unresolved trauma. These feelings may be connected to something that happened when you were younger (adverse childhood events) or more recent events.
Physical illness
Trauma can manifest in the body, causing problems ranging from headaches to gut problems and even joint pain. If the source is unresolved trauma from your past or post-traumatic stress disorder, facing your issues can bring relief.
Cognitive issues
Past trauma can mess with your ability to make good choices or think clearly. This can result in repeating unhealthy patterns of behavior over and over, further reinforcing your trauma. This creates a repeating cycle of pain and reactions.
Behavioral disturbances
Finally, trauma can cause behavioral changes, as old hurts rise up to haunt you. You might turn to addiction as a way to manage your thoughts and feelings or as a way to escape them. Therapy can help you overcome these bad behaviors and move forward.
Resolving trauma
While you can’t turn back time and make trauma not happen, you can take steps to resolve it and reduce the impact of stressors. Dr. Olele may recommend medication, talk therapy, exposure therapy, or any combination to help you move past your trauma in a healthy way and prepare for your future.
Is unresolved trauma holding you back? It’s easy to schedule a consultation with Dr. Olele. Just contact our closest location. We have offices in Alexandria and Fairfax, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Dr. Olele can also deliver services via telemedicine.
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