December 30, 2012
I was reading an article by Hilary Catling, LMFT talking about "Treating Trauma In The Family" and I wanted to share it with others. Today my husband received a phone call that his aunt had a heart attack and stroke and because she lives by herself she laid there for three days before anyone found her. She is currently on life support while her sisters fly to see her. As I spoke to my mother-in-law I could here the shock and denial as she shared the story. I explained to her that what she was feeling was perfectly normal and that she needed her daughters to help her pack and collect the things she needed to fly back to see her sister because it was all overwhelming and confusing right now.
My mother-in-law has just experienced a traumatic event in her life and she is overwhelmed, in shock and denial. This is a typical response when someone experiences a terrible event in their life. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives.
The definition of trauma is an injury (wound) to living tissue caused by an outside agent. A traumatic event can often feel like a wound,. Sometimes it may even feel like someone or something has pierced your heart.
The best way to support someone who has just experienced a traumatic event is to believe their story and give them unconditional listening. Sometimes they need to tell the story over and over again to make it real to them.
If someone experiences a traumatic event and does not process the emotions it can develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder where a person experiences nightmares and relives the trauma.
Please call me if you know someone who has experienced a traumatic event and needs helps. I am here to listen and be there for them. You can email me a kristi@counselingbykristi.com or my calling 949-200-6741.
Happy New Year!
Kristi Starkey
