Trauma & Stressor Related Disorders

Trauma Treatment Center Orange County CA

Exposure to a traumatic event can cause some individuals to display thoughts and behaviors that we today refer to as mental illnesses. There are many different treatment options for trauma and stressor-related disorders. Most plans will include medication, psychotherapy, and some form of holistic treatment.

What Are Trauma And Stressor-Related Disorders?

Trauma and stressor-related disorders are serious psychological reactions that develop in some individuals following exposure to such events as childhood neglect, physical/sexual abuse, natural disasters, or accidents. 

The effects of trauma can be seen in many different ways. In most cases, traumatic experiences involve a threat to life or safety. For example, exposure to physical or emotional violence, or abuse. 

Even neglect from family members or observing a parent being treated violently are all examples that take an immense toll on one’s mental health. Stressors such as parental separation or divorce or even the birth of a sibling could also contribute to significant difficulties for some people. The more scared and helpless a person feels from experiencing the event, the more likely they are to experience trauma. 

What Causes Trauma And Stressor Related Disorders?

Trauma occurs as a result of the perception an event involves dangers or serious life threats. 

Trauma can be easy to experience or witness, and it doesn’t take violence for an event to leave a lasting impression. These events don’t need anything more than the individual’s perception of threat or danger in order for trauma to result. 

Trauma can occur whether they are directly experiencing the adverse event themselves, witnessing that traumatic incident happen with someone else, or learning about these distressing occurrences from other people afterward. However, a person typically suffers trauma from a traumatic event like abuse, an accident, or a natural disaster. 

What are the Five Types of Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders?

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Adjustment disorders
• Acute stress disorder (ASD)
• Reactive attachment disorder (RAD)
• Disinhibited social engagement disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by an event so terrifying, it leaves you feeling like the world isn’t safe. Some people may experience flashbacks or nightmares of their horrific ordeal. Others might find themselves constantly on edge. Some are unable to enjoy any normalcy in life because they are always anticipating something terrible happening. 

PTSD can be crippling for those who suffer from this debilitating disease with symptoms ranging from anxiety attacks and depression. These uncontrollable thoughts about traumatic events can lead to increased alcohol consumption, mood swings as well as insomnia. In many cases, symptoms of trauma subside with time, however with individuals that suffer from PTSD symptoms persist for months and even years. PTSD can make day-to-day living difficult without a treatment plan. 

Adjustment Disorders

An adjustment disorder is an emotional or behavioral reaction to a stressful event or change in your life. An unhealthy response typically occurs within the first three months of this happening and can range from moderate distress all the way up to a severe mental illness like depression. 

The stressor could be something harmless, but still upsetting like moving houses. More serious stressors include loss of parents due to divorce or separation, death of pets (and even siblings). Children comprise the majority of cases diagnosed, but adults can experience adjustment disorders as well. 

Outbreaks are also common with illnesses that cause restricted mobility for children such as being chronically ill themselves. It’s not uncommon for them to default into excessive behaviors bordering on destructive behavior because they’re so frustrated at their incapacity. Especially when before there were no limitations preventing them from living “normally.”

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

Acute stress disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that may occur in patients within four weeks of a traumatic event. Symptoms include anxiety, intense fear or helplessness, dissociative symptoms, and re-experiencing the event, among others. 

Patients with acute stress are at increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. If ASD is left untreated for an extended time it can result in severe consequences such as permanent disability.

What Is The Difference Between Acute Stress And PTSD?

Acute stress disorder is the initial trauma suffered after a traumatic event. PTSD refers to the long-term aftermath of this same type of trauma and can occur even when there are no ASD symptoms present.

It must last longer than one month for it to be diagnosed as such. However, some cases may not show up until months later. This occurs as it can take time before blossoming into full-blown flashbacks or nightmares. Also, it may take an event to trigger these symptoms.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

Reactive attachment disorder is a condition in which an infant or young child does not form a secure, healthy emotional bond with his or her primary caretakers. Children with RAD often have trouble managing their emotions and may seem almost fearful of their parents, even when they are being very loving. These children rarely seek comfort from others but can be irritable or sad for long periods without any relief.

Although there is no exact cause for RAD, research has shown that children that experience a lack of love, feel abandoned, are left alone, or are uncared for can contribute to the development of RAD. 

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder

Disinhibited social engagement disorder is a behavioral problem that makes it hard for children to form an emotional bond with others. Unlike those who suffer from reactive attachment disorder, instead of being shy and withdrawn around strangers or unfamiliar people, they are outgoing and friendly. They may be impulsive; talking easily to unknown people without hesitation – sometimes even trying too hard! However, these bonds will not last long in the end which can lead them down a dangerous path as time goes on.

What Are Trauma-Related Symptoms?

• Difficulty holding concentration
• Feeling sadness or emptiness 
• Inability to sleep
• Withdrawing from social events or other people
• Wrestling with shame or guilt 
• Anger and dramatic mood shifts
• Easily induced anxiety or panic
• Feeling emotionally numb
• Tiredness or feeling wore down
• Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
• Muscle tension
• Nightmares

These symptoms of trauma can usually be placed into four categories; intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative alterations, and hyper-arousal symptoms. 

Intrusion Symptoms 

Intrusion symptoms include things such as recurring memories, thoughts, dreams about their trauma. These symptoms can make them feel like they are going through the events from before once more. Or, they can even cause an individual to dissociate themselves from reality for short periods (i.e., flashback).

Avoidance Symptoms

Avoidance symptoms often take shape through efforts like avoiding both inner and outer stimuli—both mental representations such as memories and thought patterns related to the traumatic event. It can also include physical locations where these events have happened before or people who might remind you of them. This can make daily life a challenge as this can become a person’s central focus. 

Negative Alterations

Negative changes following trauma include difficulty recalling memories about what happened during your traumatic event. They can also include feelings of isolation where it seems like nobody understands how much pain you’re going through. There can also be shame surrounding anything sexual happening with an abuser since sex is supposed to be something pleasurable not painful.

Hyper-Arousal Symptoms

Hyper-arousal symptoms include being jumpy and easily startled, irritability, angry outbursts, self-destructive behavior. When these occur it can be difficult to concentrate on anything other than the current situation or how mad you are at someone for doing something wrong. It is also common for people with trauma to have trouble sleeping because they cannot stop thinking about what happened during their traumatic event.

It’s important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to feel after a traumatic experience. Individuals suffering from trauma-related disorders often have a wide variety of symptoms. 

How Long Do Trauma Symptoms Last?

Trauma and stressor-related disorder symptoms will generally last anyway from a few days to a few months. Over time the symptoms will start fading as you can process the traumatic event. However, even once you start feeling better it’s important to remember that you may experience a trigger that will cause you to recall the event. 

Triggers related to trauma can occur from seeing a person or place where, or with who the event happened. Even passages of time may cause the trigger the painful memory, such as a holiday or anniversary. Having a plan of action for how to handle triggers will help you overcome these challenging moments.

What Specific Conditions Does Lido Wellness Center Treat?

The most common trauma and stressor-related disorders that Lido Wellness Center (LWC) treats include:

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Acute Stress Disorder
• Adjustment Disorder

What Is Lido’s Approach?

PSTD is the most common of the trauma and stressor-related disorders treated at Lido Wellness Center. Our clinical team utilizes an integrative approach, and dependent upon clinical assessment may utilize Somatic Experiencing (SE) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address symptoms related to unresolved trauma responses.

Contact Lido Wellness Today!

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with trauma and stress-related disorders and help you get your life back. Recovery is just a phone call away.

References:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/coping-with-emotional-and-psychological-trauma.htm

https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/trauma-and-stressor-related-disorders-children

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/1001/p643.html

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17904-reactive-attachment-disorder