Understanding Initial and Delayed responses after a traumatic event.

Trauma is a persistent physical, cognitive, emotional or existential response that occurs after experiencing a distressing event or series of events (CAMH, 2022). Mental Health researchers are constantly trying to understand causes and manifestations of trauma.

As Counsellors and Psychotherapists, we want to help you as a client become aware of these effects so that we can apply appropriate treatments and help you reset your life.

In this 4-part series we are exploring how trauma could be impacting a client’s physical, cognitive, behavioural and existential responses.

Cognitive Reactions to Trauma

A person’s cognitive responses to trauma will change as time passes. Initially, a person might feel like their mind has left their body—thoughts racing, lost sense of time, stumbling over speech. Their mind is trying to make sense of an event that it does not know how to categorize. This response is comparable to a computer trying to run a program that is not compatible with its operating system. Over time, as they start to process the events, those cognitive responses may be less intense but still persistent.

Immediate Cognitive Reactions

• Difficulty concentrating
  
• Rumination or racing thoughts (replaying the traumatic event over and over again)
• Distortion of time and space (feels like slow motion, or a few seconds can be perceived as minutes)
• Memory problems (e.g., not being able to recall important aspects of the trauma)
• Strong identification with victims



Delayed Cognitive Reactions

• Intrusive memories or flashbacks
  
• Reactivation of previous traumatic events
• Self-blame
• Preoccupation with event
• Difficulty making decisions
• Magical thinking: belief that certain behaviors, including avoidant behavior, will protect against future trauma
• Belief that feelings or memories are dangerous
• Generalization of triggers (e.g., a person who experiences a home invasion during the daytime may avoid being alone during the day)
• Suicidal thinking

Addressing Cognitive Reactions to Trauma

You may find some of these cognitive reactions to trauma surprising. How your mind responds to trauma over time may look different from how another person responds to a similar trauma. Cognitive symptoms associated with trauma can be intrusive and can interrupt our sense of normal life. There are many ways to address these symptoms so that you can hit the reset button and feel more like yourself.

If you’d like to speak with a Counsellor or Psychotherapist, we’re here to help. Our team members are trained in various trauma modalities and would love to offer their assistance.

Our main office is located in Barrie and we also offer virtual sessions. You can use our online platform to book an appointment today—no referrals needed.

Sources: Briere & Scott, 2006b; Foa, Stein, & McFarlane, 2006; Pietrzak, Goldstein, Southwick, & Grant, 2011. Chapter 3, Understanding the Impact of Trauma. Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services.Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 57. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/

Canadian Association of Mental Health, 2022. Trauma. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/trauma

Photo by Meghan Holmes on Unsplash