Hi everyone, it’s Alix here with another Dóchas blog. Today’s topic focuses on trauma, emotions, and self-identity, and how these factors intersect in your own life.
Have you ever noticed how past experiences might be influencing the way you act or perceive the world today? Or wondered why you feel intense emotions during everyday stressors?
Watch my video or keep reading to learn more!
Disclaimer About Trauma
It’s important to remember that everyone perceives experiences differently, so you may react to a situation in a way that is unique to you. Two people might go through the same event but have very different perceptions and emotions about it.
When it comes to trauma, there’s no single definition of what kind of life event counts as “traumatic.” What matters is how your mind and body react to the situation. People respond to trauma in many different ways. If you consider human experience as a whole, you’ll see that everyone reacts differently to the same event. These differences are influenced by the unique factors that make you who you are.
The Impact of Trauma on Emotional Health and Self-Identity
According to the article Acute and Chronic Mental Health Trauma co-authored by Feriante and Sharma, trauma refers to a “stressor experienced either directly or indirectly, resulting in significant and severe subjective distress.” Trauma is widespread and can occur throughout your life. It can have a significant impact on you, causing a wide range of emotions and influencing your sense of self.
Your self-identity – how you understand and accept yourself – shapes your personality, helps you manage emotions, and allows you to adapt to different environments. Your self-identity can influence not only how you perceive a traumatic event but also how you respond to it.
Self-identity influences your relationships, how you interact in social contexts, and even your trust in others or the world around you. It also affects how you cope with ongoing life stressors or the lasting effects of a trauma. Such experiences can impact self-identity by changing how you perceive the world and how you understand and accept yourself. At the same time, self-identity can act as a protective factor, shaping how intensely you experience trauma compared to someone else.
How Trauma Shapes Your Feelings and Behaviour
Experiencing a traumatic event can make you feel lost, alone, ashamed, guilty, angry, sad, confused, or diminish your sense of self-worth.
Some people may not much at all after a traumatic experience. How you perceive the event can influence your emotional response. These reactions can also affect your self-identity, shaping how you accept and understand yourself. Trauma can further influence your behaviour and have lasting psychological effects.
Trauma can also show up in your behaviour. You might find yourself:
- Withdrawing from others.
- Becoming more reactive in situations that feel threatening to you.
- Struggling to trust people you once felt safe with.
- Noticing changes in sleep, concentration, or ability to be present in daily life.
These are all ways the body and mind try to protect you after something difficult has happened. This isn’t something to be scared of, rather something to make note of and explore in therapy.
Trauma is shaped by perspective, which is why you might be deeply affected by a situation while someone else may not. Because of the many factors that make up who you are, your view of an event can differ significantly from how another person experiences it.
How to Find Support and Build Strength After Trauma
- Allow yourself to feel these emotions and validate your reactions to your experiences.
- Practice mindfulness, such as breathing, and approach your experiences with self-compassion.
- Reach out to trusted people in your life. Connection with others can be a powerful part of healing, and you don’t have to navigate your struggles alone!
- Notice and gently challenge the negative beliefs about yourself that may have formed as a result of your experiences. Trauma can distort how you see yourself, and rebuilding a self-compassionate inner narrative is an important part of recovery.
- Different therapy approaches can help you strengthen your relationship with yourself, provide a safe space to explore your self-identity, manage your emotions, build confidence in adapting to different environments, and develop resilience.
Not Sure Where to Start with Therapy?
Take the Dóchas Compass (1–2 minute quiz) and we’ll guide you toward the best fit therapist for you.
If you already know what you’re looking for, you can book an appointment online (in-person in Spruce Grove or virtual across Alberta) or call us at 780-446-0300.
About Dóchas Psychological
Dóchas Psychological Services is a well-established and trusted therapy clinic located in Spruce Grove, Alberta. At Dóchas we value the idea that everyone deserves a safe space. Through connection and education, our team works hard to build a trustworthy relationship with each of our clients. It is our goal to create a community for our clients to feel like they belong.
Disclaimer
Information provided through Dóchas Psychological Services blogs or vlogs is meant for educational purposes only. They are NOT medical or mental health advice. You can read more about our disclaimer here.
