Everyone experiences trauma in their lifetimes, but not all trauma is created equal. Chronic unresolved trauma is a leading cause of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. People with unresolved trauma are at increased risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes. People who have significant trauma often feel unsafe, constantly on edge. They may internalize there is a flaw in themselves that led to the trauma, or they caused it somehow. It is normal for people who experience trauma to minimize their experiences away by saying things like, "everyone had a hard childhood," or "it could have been worse." Though these things have some truth to them, they don't take away a person's experience. When our sense of safety is destroyed, what seems like a simple task, can be unbearable. Medications don't change the experiences that we have had, but they can calm down our flight or fight response and restore balance to a dysregulated response system. Identifying a history of trauma and responding with trauma-informed care, can improve the health and well-being of individuals.
