Mariza Olivier
Private Practice
Trauma Counsellor in Middelburg (MP)
Email: mariza@mariza.co.za Sel.nr: 082 584 3017
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What is TRAUMA?
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the mind that occurs as a result of a distressing event. Trauma is often the result of an overwhelming amount of stress that exceeds one’s ability to cope, or integrate the emotions involved with that experience
TRAUMA
The
SILENT KILLER
What are TRAUMATIC EVENTS?
Examples of traumatic events include:
- death of family member, lover, friend, teacher, or pet
- divorce
- domestic abuse
- farm attack & farm murder
- miscarriage
- moving to a new location
- natural disasters
- parental abandonment
- physical pain or injury (e.g. severe car accident)
- prison stay
- rape
- robbery
- serious illness
- terrorism
- war
- witnessing a death (car accident or killing)
How Do People Respond to Traumatic Events?
Once you have moved past the initial shock, responses to a traumatic event may vary. Common responses include:
- altered sleeping or insomnia
- anger
- anxiety and nervousness
- changes in appetite
- denial
- depression
- difficulty concentrating
- flashbacks or repeated memories of the event
- intense fear that the traumatic event will recur, particularly around anniversaries of the event (or when going back to the scene of the original event)
- irritability
- physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches and nausea
- sudden, dramatic mood changes
- withdrawal and isolation from day-to-day activities
- worsening of an existing medical condition
When Should You Contact a Professional?
You should seek professional help if symptoms persist and interfere with day-to-day activities, school or work performance, or personal relationships.
Seek help for trauma if you’re:
- Avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma,
- Emotionally numb and disconnected from others,
- Experiencing terrifying memories, nightmares, or flashbacks,
- Having trouble functioning at home or work,
- Suffering from severe fear, anxiety, or depression,
- Unable to form close, satisfying relationships,
- Using alcohol or drugs to feel better
Signs that a child may need professional help to cope with a traumatic event include:
- emotional outbursts,
- aggressive behavior,
- withdrawal,
- persistent difficulty in sleeping,
- continued obsession with the traumatic event,
- serious problems at school.