Usually when I treat a person for anxiety or depression, they have tried every other single therapy. It may have helped a bit, but it never resolved their issues. I am their last shot.
In my experience, anxiety and depression are often symptoms of trauma. And by treating the symptoms and not the cause, you are merely sticking a plaster on a festering wound.
A 2013 University of Liverpool research study showed that traumatic life events are the single most significant cause of anxiety and depression, followed by a family history of mental illness and income and education levels.
“Depression and anxiety are not simple conditions, and there is no single cause,” said Professor Peter Kinderman, Head of the Institute of Psychology, Health and Society who led the research. “While we know that a person’s genetics and life circumstances contribute to mental health problems, the results showed that traumatic life events are the main reason people suffer from anxiety and depression. However, the way a person thinks about and deals with stressful events is as much an indicator of the level of stress and anxiety they feel.”
Symptoms of Trauma-Induced Depression
Initial symptoms of trauma-induced depression can include:
– Extreme sadness
– Frequent crying
– Feelings of loss
– Emotional numbness
– Disillusionment
– Loss of appetite
– Difficulty sleeping
– Recurring memories/flashbacks
– Nightmares about the traumatic event
– Social withdrawal
After experiencing a life trauma, these feelings and experiences are entirely normal. But if these persist for more than two weeks and start to interfere with your daily life, then they have become symptoms of more severe depression. And that that should be treated by a professional.
Trauma-Induced Depression Treatment
Studies have shown that our brain chemistry changes in response to trauma. So as a result, the effects of experiencing a traumatic situation aren’t something you can just “snap out of” or “just get over it.”
Did you have to deal with traumatic situations that left you feeling anxious or depressed? If you’ve experienced a life trauma, it’s essential to recognise the symptoms, realise that you’re not alone, and get help. You can leave trauma-induced depression in your past.
Want to know more? Get in touch with me.
