What is trauma?
Trauma can happen to anyone at any time, often catching us off guard. Whether it comes from a major event like a natural disaster or something more personal like bullying or the loss of a loved one, trauma can deeply affect how we feel. The most important thing to remember is—you’re not alone.
Traumatic experiences occur when we feel highly stressed, frightened, or lack control over a situation. They often make us feel that we or people we care about are at risk of serious harm. Trauma can come from one major event or a series of smaller, ongoing challenges.
Most people will have some sort of traumatic experience at some point and it can deeply affect how we feel. Negative thoughts and traumatic memories can be difficult to cope with. What matters most is giving yourself space to process those emotions. However, some trauma can have a long-term impact and it’s never too late to ask for help.
Everyone’s experience is unique, and there’s no ‘correct’ way to feel after you’ve experienced trauma. What overwhelms one person can affect someone else completely differently, and that’s okay. Your feelings might come and go quickly or linger longer than expected.
When trauma goes unaddressed, it can lead to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where the effects continue to disrupt your life. With the right care and support, you can start to feel better and regain a sense of control.
1 in 3 adults in England have reported experiencing at least 1 traumatic event
An estimated 1 in 3 children in the UK will experience a traumatic event by the age of 18
What causes trauma?
Trauma can be triggered by a wide range of experiences and distressing events.
Bullying or Harassment: Emotional abuse that leaves deep scars.
Assault or Abuse: Physical or sexual experiences that cause intense emotional pain.
Injuries: A road collision, workplace accident or fall from height might mean you focus on recovering from your physical injuries, while emotional trauma develops later.
Childbirth: Difficult births can lead to birth trauma.
Loss of a Loved One: Grief from a sudden death can have a profound impact.
Major Events: Exposure to terrorism, natural disasters or war.
Everyday Challenges: Situations like surgery, breakups or financial hardship.
These experiences can leave you with traumatic memories that are difficult to process. You do not have to have experienced these things yourself: you might have witnessed someone else being harmed. This can also be distressing and leave a lasting impact.
Childhood Trauma
Children are particularly sensitive to trauma, so stressful events can have a lasting impact on their emotions and behaviour. Without support, childhood trauma can carry over into adulthood. This can make people more vulnerable to emotional challenges. With the right care and understanding, healing from childhood trauma is possible for both adults and children.
The symptoms and effects of trauma
Trauma symptoms vary massively from person to person. Traumatic experiences can make you feel scared, lonely, humiliated, trapped, ashamed and powerless. The intensity of these feelings can range from subtle to overwhelming.
It’s normal to experience shock or denial immediately after a traumatic event. This is your brain’s way of protecting you. Over time, these feelings may evolve, and you may go through a variety of physical and emotional symptoms.
The effects of trauma don’t always appear immediately. They can develop over weeks, months or years. They may start to affect your relationships, work and daily life.
Emotional Symptoms
Shock or Denial: Initial disbelief or numbness that helps you process traumatic events gradually.
Mood Swings: Sudden shifts in emotions, from anger to sadness or fear. You might snap at people unexpectedly or feel you need to get away from where you are.
Flashbacks and Nightmares: Reliving the trauma in your mind or when sleeping.
Being On High Alert: Becoming very alert and vigilant of your surroundings.
Blaming Yourself: You might feel guilt and blame yourself for what happened. This can be your mind’s way of coping, even if it wasn’t your fault.
Physical Symptoms
Racing Heart: Your body may stay in a heightened state of alertness, as if danger is still present.
Panic Attacks: A sudden, intense reaction that can include breathing difficulties, dizziness, trembling, a sense of dread, anxiety or detachment.
Fatigue and Aches: Trauma can make you feel tired, and lead to headaches or unexplained body aches.
Impact on Daily Life
Difficulty Concentrating: Trauma can cloud your mind, making it hard to focus on work or everyday tasks.
Social Withdrawal: You might pull away from loved ones or feel disconnected from social activities.
Long-Term Effects: Trauma can make you more vulnerable to mental health problems. It can contribute to anxiety, depression or addiction. It can also lead directly to PTSD, making recovery more challenging.
How can trauma be managed?
Treating trauma means first and foremost taking care of yourself. This can feel difficult at times, but it’s important to help you feel more secure. Accept that you need time to process what’s happened and lean on your support network. Asking for help can start the healing process so you can get back in control of your life.
Self-Care Strategies
Maintain Routines: Whether it’s going to work, seeing friends or simply following a regular schedule, keeping your daily habits will bring a sense of normality. It will also help you to stay connected to your life and the people in it.
Look After Your Health: Getting plenty of rest and eating well will support both your physical and mental health.
Build Connections: Spend time with people you trust. Being around friends and family who care about you can provide comfort and stability.
Find Joy: Activities that bring you peace or happiness, like hobbies or spending time outdoors, can help you reconnect with yourself.
Practical Tips for Treating Trauma
Talk About It: Sharing your feelings with someone you trust or writing them down can be a powerful way to process your emotions.
Lean on Support: Whether through a close friend, a support group, or professional help, connecting with others who understand your experience can be a great relief.
Nourish Your Body: Good nutrition, rest, and regular activity can support your emotional and physical recovery.
Avoid Major Decisions: Avoid making significant life changes immediately after a traumatic event. Give yourself the time and space to process what has happened.
Professional Trauma Treatments
Seeking professional support can be incredibly helpful, whether through your GP or a specialist trauma therapist. There are trauma-informed resources available to guide you through the healing process.
How can hypnotherapy help with trauma?
Hypnotherapy for trauma offers a gentle and effective way to help you heal from trauma, without needing to re-live painful memories. It helps you rediscover your inner strengths and resilience, guiding you towards a brighter, more positive future.
In solution focused hypnotherapy, we never revisit the past or focus on the trauma itself. Instead, the approach is future-oriented, helping you take practical steps towards a better emotional state. Hypnotherapy sessions build on your strengths and what you can do now.
Our trauma hypnotherapy focuses on the present and future, avoiding the need to revisit traumatic memories. This can help you avoid re-traumatisation while still making progress towards healing.
Hypnotherapy provides a calm mental space where you can process difficult feelings without feeling overwhelmed. Our hypnotherapy sessions promote a sense of calm, allowing your mind and body to rest and recharge. We help you to move forward with more confidence and resilience. Each session is personalised to your needs, allowing you to progress at your own pace.
Our Trauma Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Emma Treby
Mid Devon
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Marina Love
Aylesbury Vale
Peter Ely
Islington
Samantha Morson
Canvey Island
Victoria Anderson
County Durham
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
