primary area of treatment

The American Psychological Association defines trauma as " An emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster." Other events associated with trauma are; abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence, bullying, war, grief, as well as other events. 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. " Unfortunately, many people do not associated negative symptoms with a traumatic events causing them to be misdiagnosed because they failed to disclose a traumatic experience, especially when it occurred during childhood.  

Below you will find symptoms associated with trauma: 

1. Have you EVER experienced a traumatic event?

2. Do you experience mood swings or wake up irritable, sad, depressed or angry without any  

     reason?

3. Do you have difficulty regulating your emotions?

4. Do you have difficulty trusting others?

5. Do you have negative views about yourself (Thinking you're bad, not good enough, thinking 

     you're being judged)?

6. Do you have difficulty sleeping?

7. Do you experience nightmares?

8. Do you have hypervigilance which can look like ADHD?

9. Do you have difficulty focusing or concentrating?

10. Do you have difficulty recalling periods of your childhood.

11. Do you feel as if life is going in a circle by you consistently making the same poor choices? 

12. Do you have trouble in relationships?

13. Do you struggle with feeling safe?

14. Do you self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.

15. Do you engage in risky behaviors (Excessive spending, multiple sexual partners, unprotected

      sex, reckless driving, doing "whatever" to fit in with others?

16. Do you experience flashbacks associated with a traumatic events or attempts to avoid  

      thinking about a traumatic event?

17. Do you feel as if you're two different people and being pulled in different directions?

18. Do you feel emotionally numb (  shutting out feelings and can be experienced through emotional deficits or restrictions in the capacity to feel or express emotions).

19. Self-sabotaging behaviors

20. Do you have Fibromyalgia?

21. Were you raised by parents who abused drugs, was demeaning, or narcissist?

22. Were you constantly moving as a child with little stability?

23. As a child were your basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, and feeling safe) disrupted?