Unpacking the Trauma Toolkit
Rachel Hoadley-Clausen, Ph.D Cameron Andrews
B.A. in Psychology B.S. Rehabilitation Sciences
M.S. in Applied Psychology and Disability Services
PhD in Clinical and Counseling Psychology
Residency at CAVHCS
MSCCP In Clinical Psychopharmacology
Traumatization occurs when an individual experiences events that activate the body’s alarm system, such as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) or life-threatening situations outlined in PTSD criteria. The body reacts with instinctive responses: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Trauma can disrupt the sensitivity of the alarm system, making it overly responsive to perceived threats. Symptoms of trauma, such as intrusive thoughts or mood changes, may not surface immediately. Instead, avoidance tactics, like suppressing memories, often emerge as coping mechanisms. These strategies hinder emotional processing, making it difficult to recall and move past the trauma. Open communication and deliberate reflection on the traumatic experience are essential for processing it effectively.
Diagnosing PTSD requires careful consideration. According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Version 5), PTSD cannot be diagnosed within the first month of a traumatic event, as initial reactions, such as anxiety or hyper vigilance, are considered normal. PTSD is characterized by specific criteria: Criterion A involves exposure to life-threatening illness, injury, or abuse. Criterion B includes intrusive symptoms, like flashbacks or nightmares, while Criterion C reflects avoidant behaviors. Criterion D highlights mood and cognitive changes, often depressive, and Criterion E captures hyperarousal or hypervigilance, such as heightened anxiety. These symptoms can persist for 1–6 months or longer, affecting emotional stability and leading to common coping mechanisms like drug or alcohol abuse.
Triggers, which elicit feelings of anxiety, fear, or distress, are often linked to reminders of the trauma, such as specific smells, crowded spaces, or a lack of exits. These cues are not inherently dangerous but remind the individual of the trauma, keeping their detection system in a state of hypervigilance. Understanding that these triggers no longer pose a threat is a critical step in recovery.
Effective treatments for trauma focus on reprocessing the traumatic memory and addressing unhelpful thought patterns. Prolonged exposure therapy, where the individual discusses the event in detail for at least 45 minutes daily, is one of the most effective methods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which may or may not include recounting the trauma, can be done individually or in group settings. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another treatment that helps individuals evaluate and challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. These therapeutic approaches facilitate healing by fostering resilience, reducing symptoms, and allowing individuals to move forward with a healthier mindset.
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