Trauma
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What is Trauma?
When something disturbing or distressing happens, whether in childhood or as an adult, the memories and its effects can haunt someone for years to come. According to the American Psychiatric Association: “Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives.” |
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Trauma and Spirituality
Trauma can affect a person's mood, self-image, relationships, and prevent survivors from truly living in the present and experiencing lasting happiness. It can even affect a person's spiritual life and how they view God. For people of faith, spiritually-integrated counseling can help them utilize the resources of their faith to find healing. If their trauma intersected with their faith, a trained pastoral counselor can help them detach and heal from parts of their faith that were used against them, and rediscover and establish new ways of experiencing spirituality that reflects who they are and who they want to become.
Trauma can affect a person's mood, self-image, relationships, and prevent survivors from truly living in the present and experiencing lasting happiness. It can even affect a person's spiritual life and how they view God. For people of faith, spiritually-integrated counseling can help them utilize the resources of their faith to find healing. If their trauma intersected with their faith, a trained pastoral counselor can help them detach and heal from parts of their faith that were used against them, and rediscover and establish new ways of experiencing spirituality that reflects who they are and who they want to become.
