At Maui Recovery, we provide specialized trauma treatment programs for lasting healing. Trauma impacts individuals uniquely, with reactions varying widely.
Trauma is often defined by responses to distress rather than its cause. Individuals can respond differently to the same traumatic event. Trauma is about both what happened and what didn’t—a lack of healthy attachments in early life can affect relationships in adulthood.
Recognizing trauma effects helps identify signs early for essential treatment.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is described as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have long-lasting effects on an individual’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Those who have experienced trauma may struggle to cope or make sense of what has happened, leading to various complications in an individual’s life, including:
- Relationship difficulties
- Trust issues
- Feeling as though the world is no longer safe
- Depression and anxiety
- Unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as alcohol or drug abuse, to cope with unpleasant memories, feelings and emotions related to your trauma
- Emotional dysregulation
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
What kinds of events can trigger trauma?
Common examples of traumatic events include the following:
- Physical violence
- Emotional abuse
- Natural disasters
- Severe health crisis or injury
- The sudden loss of a loved one
- Combat violence
The impact of trauma varies widely among individuals, with some being able to recover and move forward more quickly than others.
In contrast, some people may struggle with persistent feelings of fear, anxiety, horror, and helplessness as a result of a traumatic event or experience, requiring them to seek treatment from a mental health specialist.
Statistics on Trauma in the United States
Much research shows the detrimental impacts that trauma can have on individuals, families and communities.
For example, a World Mental Health survey found that at least a third or more of the one-hundred and twenty-five thousand individuals surveyed had experienced trauma.
In addition, according to the National Center for PTSD, about five out of every one hundred adults (or 5%) in the U.S. have PTSD in any given year.
What’s more, in 2020, roughly thirteen million Americans reported suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition that can develop following a traumatic event.
It would help if you remembered that not every treatment center specializes in addressing emotional issues that require a more specialized, targeted approach to recovery, such as trauma.
So, when looking for a treatment facility for yourself or a loved one, you must check whether they specialize in diagnosing and treating your condition before making a final decision.
We recommend choosing a treatment program tailored to your unique needs, goals, and preferences.
Why is this important?
Adopting a personalized approach to treatment produces the most effective, long-lasting outcomes for those in recovery from trauma and many other mental health conditions.
At Maui Recovery, we provide comprehensive, personalized treatment for a wide range of emotional issues, including substance addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD, offering you the reassurance and guidance you need to make an informed decision about your treatment.
Trauma symptoms
While each person experiences trauma differently, there are some common symptoms that most people experience, including:
- Avoidance. It is common for trauma survivors to avoid any reminders of the traumatic event they experienced, including people, places, conversations or activities that may trigger unwanted emotions or memories of what happened.
- Intrusive thoughts. Many people experience persistent and distressing flashbacks and nightmares as a result of trauma, which can feel like they are reliving the event all over again.
- Hyperarousal. Those who have experienced trauma may constantly feel on edge, nervous or easily startled, which can lead to sleep issues or trouble concentrating.
- Changes in beliefs. Trauma survivors often experience a change in their values or beliefs and may question their safety in the world and how much they can trust others and themselves.
- Social withdrawal. Self-isolation is a typical response to trauma where individuals may withdraw from relationships or activities to help them cope with their emotional distress.
If you are experiencing symptoms of trauma or finding it difficult to cope, you must speak to your doctor or a mental health professional who can advise you on effective treatment options and next steps.
Early treatment intervention can help you avoid some of the long-term effects of trauma, allowing you to process and reframe your experiences so they no longer hold you back or prevent you from living your life.
What are the different types of trauma?
Experts explain that trauma can be categorized into several different types, including the following:
- Acute trauma – occurs as a result of a single traumatic event that is often sudden and unexpected, such as a car accident, physical assault or natural disaster.
- Chronic trauma – involves repeated exposure to distressing events that occur over an extended period, such as domestic violence, living in a war zone or ongoing neglect or abuse.
- Complex trauma – occurs when a person experiences multiple traumatic events, usually in childhood. Complex trauma is often the result of interpersonal trauma such as abandonment, neglect or abuse from a parent or caregiver.
- Developmental trauma – refers to traumatic events that occur during vital stages of an individual’s development (i.e., childhood). Traumatic experiences during this stage of development can have a lasting impact on a person’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Other types of trauma
As well as those mentioned above, researchers have identified additional types of trauma, each with its own set of diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and treatment.
They include:
- Vicarious trauma (also called secondary trauma)
- Historical or intergenerational trauma
- Medical trauma
- Community trauma
Understanding the different types of trauma can help you recognize the various symptoms and treatment options available so that you can begin to explore what kind of therapy suits you and your needs best.
Trauma treatment at Maui Recovery
Maui Recovery provides personalized trauma treatment programs to clients at our luxury Hawaiian recovery center.
As well as evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, clients recovering from trauma (and other co-occurring mental health issues) have the unique opportunity to participate in various nature-based and creative approaches to trauma treatment and recovery.
Below are some treatments we offer as part of an integrated trauma treatment program at our recovery center in Hawaii.
Nature Therapy
Nature therapy offers various benefits to those in trauma recovery, helping you feel more relaxed and grounded as you connect with your environment and immerse yourself in tranquil settings such as local forests, beaches, and botanical gardens.
This treatment blends the natural world with various psychological approaches to help facilitate deep healing from trauma by being more present-focused and connecting with nature.
Studies show that nature therapy can help promote physical and emotional well-being and offers an ideal environment for those recovering from various emotional issues.
Surf Therapy
Extensive research has shown the effectiveness of surf therapy for those in recovery from trauma and other mental health conditions.
Researchers found that surfing can help promote physical activity, mindfulness, and a sense of fulfillment and empowerment, making it an effective treatment for healing trauma.
Click here to read our latest article about the benefits of surf therapy and how it can aid mental health recovery.
Adventure Therapy
Adventure therapy is an excellent treatment for those in recovery from trauma as it can help build confidence and social connection as well as foster teamwork.
This therapy gives individuals the opportunity to face their fears and overcome any obstacles or challenges, which is beneficial for trauma recovery.
Trauma often chips away at our confidence, sense of self and trust in others, making it challenging to enjoy various aspects of our lives.
Adventure therapy can help individuals regain their identity and confidence with a renewed sense of self, acceptance and resilience.
Other effective trauma therapies include:
- Equine therapy
- Art and expressive therapies
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Cultural immersion
It’s important to note that the above therapies are most effective when used as part of an integrated treatment program alongside formal therapies such as CBT, DBT and EMDR.
Why Choose Maui Recovery?
We provide comprehensive, personalized trauma treatment to clients in Hawaii and surrounding regions.
Our team comprises trauma specialists, addiction counselors, recovery therapists, medical consultants, and more to help you get the most out of your recovery.
Our holistic approach to treating trauma
We offer holistic trauma treatment programs that help treat the ‘whole’ person, and not just your symptoms, which can lead to more favorable recovery outcomes as this approach enables you to learn healthy coping skills and address any underlying issues that may cause or worsen your condition.
Effective trauma treatment usually involves a combination of various evidence-based therapies and approaches, some of which we provide at our recovery center.
These include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Individual therapy and group support
- Aftercare and support
Other effective trauma therapies you may wish to explore
As well as the above, you may want to explore other trauma -focused treatments.
These therapies can help you process any memories and emotions that may have become ‘stored’ in the body when the event occurred, allowing you to release and reprocess them safely so they no longer cause you so much distress when thinking about them.
These treatments include the following:
- EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy)
- Somatic experiencing
- Prolonged exposure therapy (PET)
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
Trauma can disrupt many areas of your life. However, recovery is possible with proper treatment, support, and care.
Contact Maui Recovery today for further support and information about our trauma treatment program.
Your recovery awaits
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