3 Reasons Why Traumas Aren’t Always Easy to Identify
When many people think about trauma, stereotypical symptoms often come to mind. They could include everything from painful flashbacks to physical manifestations.
But, traumas aren’t always easy to identify. There are plenty of “hidden signs” that can go overlooked or be mislabeled as something else.
The more you understand about trauma and why it isn’t always easy to pin down, the easier it might be to determine if you or someone in your life is dealing with it.
With that in mind, let’s go over three reasons why traumas aren’t always easy to identify.
1. Trauma Can Feel Like Anxiety or Depression
One of the biggest reasons why trauma isn’t always easy to identify is because it can manifest as other mental health issues. Feelings of anxiety and depression can be the result of one particularly traumatic experience. These emotions are frequently the result of years of childhood trauma, as well.
If you frequently have anxious thoughts, or symptoms of depression—fatigue, sadness, or feelings of hopelessness—there could be something deeper causing it.
2. Trauma Can Cause Physical Pain
When your body feels sore, tired, or in pain, you probably don’t automatically assume it stems from some traumatic event. Instead, you might go to your doctor to make sure you’re not physically sick or injured.
However, the effects of trauma can bring up a variety of issues, including physical ailments. If you have aches and pains or you’re always tired, and there isn’t another medical reason why it could be due to unresolved trauma.
Trauma can also cause you to have a challenging time concentrating or sleeping. It often leads to insomnia. So, don’t automatically assume that trauma has to be a mental health situation. Unexplained physical problems could have more of a link to trauma than you might expect.
3. Trauma Can Lead to a Lack of Trust
Many people who have gone through trauma have a hard time trusting others. But, it’s easy to excuse that or come up with other reasons for it. So, you can link other behaviors and patterns to identify whether trauma is the cause of your trust issues.
Often, people who have experienced trauma perceive the world as a dark and dangerous place. They tend not to manage their stress well. Also, they often remain isolated and keep to themselves. This approach to life means staying away from friends, family, and doing things they may have once enjoyed. People who have gone through trauma also typically have a harder time maintaining healthy relationships.
Notice a pattern? Not trusting anyone or anything isn’t something that “just happens” to people. There has to be a reason for it. Recognizing that reason (or reasons) can be vital in treating your trauma.
What to Do Next
Some survivors of trauma don’t like to talk about the event(s) that happened. Maybe it happened a long time ago, or perhaps they’ve even repressed some of those memories. That’s another reason the issues aren’t always easy to notice. But, ignoring some of the hidden signs of traumas typically only makes things worse.
If you or someone you know is struggling and you’re not sure why, it’s crucial to get a proper diagnosis. You don’t have to deal with the effects of trauma your whole life. Therapy can help you to manage your symptoms, identify your triggers, and finally find freedom from the confines of the event(s) that caused so much harm.
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Don’t ignore the hidden signs. If you want to know more about why traumas aren’t always easy to identify, or if you need help, feel free to contact us for more information or to set up an appointment.
