Helping a Loved One Deal with Trauma

Photo of woman comforting daughter
At least some level of trauma has touched virtually everyone’s life. Recognizing the signs of trauma and understanding what you can do to help yourself or a loved one deal with the stress is important.

“Most people think of trauma as a big ‘T’ event, for example resulting from severe abuse or post-traumatic stress disorder related to intense military service, but there is also small ‘t’ trauma, which is often overlooked, and can be the result of distressing experiences, such as verbal abuse or neglect, emotional abuse, bullying, and poverty,” says Iris Perlstein, LCADC, LPC, ATR-BC, Clinical Coordinator, First Responder Treatment Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health. “Experiences like what we have faced with the pandemic or a change in circumstances such as the loss of a job, divorce, or death of a loved one, can all result in this type of trauma.”

 

Opening Up is Key

The various types of trauma will require similar steps to process the emotional stress that continues to overwhelm the trauma survivor. 

“Most importantly, the person dealing with the trauma needs to understand how it is internalized and can lead to adverse effects,” says Perlstein. “Trying to hide or mask it can allow the trauma to play a role in virtually every area of one’s life. Sharing what they are remembering and validating what they are feeling is important and will help the person feel safe to continue expressing themselves.

To help a loved one heal:

  • Be open to listening
  • Remain nonjudgmental 
  • Avoid minimalizing
  • Recognize trigger their feelings situations
  • Practice patience 

If trauma is impacting a loved one’s quality of life, and lending your support is not doing enough to ease their burden, seeking professional help is important. Programs available through Princeton House Behavioral Health can help individuals work through trauma and develop techniques to handle triggering events.

“Through it all, the support of loved ones will help make the process of healing easier,” says Perlstein. 

Signs of Emotional Trauma

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Anger/mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt/shame
  • Social withdrawal
  • Depression/sense of hopelessness
  • Feeling disconnected or numb
  • Substance abuse

 


For more information about Princeton House Behavioral Health’s adult programs, call 888.437.1610 or visit princetonhouse.org
For information on our monthly self-care series, visit our events page.