Seeking Help When Trauma Occurs
- sigmamentalhealthuc
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
As a clinic with deep roots in San Antonio, we wanted to pause and acknowledge the heartbreaking tragedy that has impacted Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country. Our hearts are with the individuals, families, and communities grieving an unimaginable loss.
In the aftermath of trauma, emotions can feel overwhelming- grief, fear, confusion, and helplessness are all normal responses to abnormal events. Trauma revs up the nervous system. It's like a fire alarm inside your brain with the siren going and red alert blaring. This can continue even when people are physically safe. The alarm system can quiet then get revved up again when encountering a triggering location, thought, or event.
The VA (Veterans Affairs) has a list of common reactions in trauma:
Losing hope for the future
Feeling distant (detached) or losing a sense of concern about others
Being unable to concentrate or make decisions
Feeling jumpy and getting startled easily at sudden noises
Feeling on guard and alert all the time
Having dreams and memories that upset you
Having problems at work or school
Avoiding people, places and things related to the event
You may also experience more physical reactions such as:
Stomach upset and trouble eating
Trouble sleeping and feeling very tired
Pounding heart, rapid breathing, feeling shaky
Sweating
Severe headache if thinking of the event
Not keeping up with exercise, diet, safe sex or regular health care
Smoking more, using alcohol or drugs more, or eating too much
Having your ongoing medical problems get worse
You may have more emotional troubles such as:
Feeling nervous, helpless, fearful, sad
Feeling shocked, numb, or not able to feel love or joy
Being irritable or having angry outbursts
Getting easily upset or agitated
Blaming yourself or having negative views of oneself or the world
Being unable to trust others, getting into fights, or trying to control everything
Being withdrawn, feeling rejected, or abandoned
Feeling detached, not wanting intimacy
For many people, the stress symptoms listed above may improve with time on their own. For others, they might get sticky or impairing. For both children and adults, it can be difficult to know how to cope or what to do next. It’s important to seek professional help if symptoms begin to interfere with daily life or if you or a loved one feels stuck.
Therapy can also be a helpful, proactive step after a traumatic event, even before distress becomes acute. A trusted provider can offer space to process what’s happened, help reduce the risk of long term mental health concerns, and guide healing in a safe, supported way.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of help. At Sigma we are here for you, in times of crisis, grief and every step in between.
Photo designed by http://www.freepik.com/
