Grief & Loss as Trauma

Grief can be a form of trauma. Loss can feel painful and overwhelming. Therefore, it can open up a whole world of intense and confusing emotions. Consequently, when one experiences loss, it usually connects to other losses in one’s life.

Grief does not focus only on the most recent experience. So, it can be rather triggering. Loss can bring up the challenging emotional and physical sensations associated with trauma.

Trauma therapy gives voice to the events that need processing. However, the grieving process is personal. And, not everyone grieves the same. The trauma therapists at Authentic Connections Counseling Center let you move through your grief process at a comfortable pace for you. Above all, know that there are no specific rules on how to experience trauma or grief.

Trauma & the Brain

Traumatic experiences are stored differently in the brain than normal, everyday experiences. Typically, our bodies take in and manage new information without us being aware of it. So, it is an automatic process. However, when something traumatic happens or we are repeatedly subjected to distress, our bodies’ natural coping mechanisms can be overloaded. Therefore, this overload can result in disturbing experiences remaining “frozen” in your brain. These frozen memories can be called “unprocessed.”

Such unprocessed memories and feelings are stored in the limbic system of the brain. While unprocessed, they are in a “raw” and emotional form, rather than in a verbal “story” mode. The limbic system keeps traumatic memories in an isolated memory network. Further, this network is connected to our emotional and physical sensations. Consequently, these memories are disconnected from the brain’s cortex. The cortex is where we use language to store memories. Our normal memories are stored in the brain’s cortex, which allows us to use language to communicate them in a “story” mode.

Trauma Triggers

So, when memories are stored in the wrong place (the limbic system), the emotions, thoughts, and sensory perceptions associated with the traumatic event can be triggered at any time. So, this is what people are referring to when they say something is “triggering.”

However, it is important to remember that these uncomfortable sensations were appropriate at the time of the trauma. (Your body and brain were trying to protect you!) But, they do not help us after the event. In fact, they can harm us later in life. We may continue to feel “stuck” in the traumatic memory even when we are going about our day-to-day tasks. To sum up, leaving these difficult memories unprocessed can impact our ability to live in the present and learn from new experiences.

Effects of Trauma

Every person reacts to trauma differently and can experience a wide range of physical and emotional sensations. It is important to remember that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel, or respond to trauma. Your responses are NORMAL reactions to ABNORMAL events.

Our Approach to Trauma Therapy & PTSD Treatment

Here at Authentic Connections, our trauma therapists have extensive training and practice in treating trauma. We will help you unpack these challenging feelings and memories in a non-judgmental space.

Our compassionate and genuine environment creates a safe place for you to work through some hard feelings and memories.

Further, many of our therapists are trained in EMDR therapy. EMDR therapy is a newer form of treatment for trauma and PTSD. It has been highly researched. Therefore, it has been proven to be very effective for treating symptoms of trauma, as well as other mental health challenges.

Learn more about our EMDR therapy services here.

Start Trauma Therapy & PTSD Treatment in Castle Rock, CO

You don’t have to feel stuck forever. Working with a trauma therapist for PTSD treatment at our counseling practice in Castle Rock, CO can make all the difference.

In fact, we can see you wherever you are in the state with online therapy in Colorado. Whether you decide to do EMDR therapy or another of our trauma treatment services, you can get the help you need!