Collective trauma is the psychological and emotional harm resulting from a group’s shared experience of a traumatic event. It may involve a small group, like a family, or affect the community or society as a whole.  Collective trauma can have a significant impact, causing many emotional, psychological, and social problems. The effects of collective trauma can also be long-lasting and may be passed down through generations. These may include feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, guilt and grief, as well as increased levels of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD ..read more

No matter how long ago a traumatic event occurred, it can have effects that stretch far into the future. A lesser-known effect is the sense of a foreshortened future, where people feel or believe their life will be cut short without any concrete explanation. What Is A Sense of A Foreshortened Future? When people feel that their life will be cut short or that they don’t have a future, they can struggle to think past a certain point or make plans. For example, they may not be able to imagine their life in ten years or after a certain age. They can also struggle with negative thoughts about the ..read more

People experience a wide range of emotions, often relating to specific events. For example, they may feel frustrated in a traffic jam or happy when they see friends or family. Triggers work in much the same way, provoking intense emotional reactions that can often remind people of past traumatic events. Understanding and identifying triggers is a big step in healing past trauma and improving emotional health. What Are Triggers? A trigger can be anything; a memory, person, place, or object. They can be separated into two categories: Internal triggers come from within a person and can be an em ..read more

The impact of unprocessed trauma will often result in unfamiliar mental and physical difficulties. After experiencing an overwhelming amount of stress, many of us will tend to use avoidance in the hope of overcoming the trauma which has taken place. Unprocessed trauma can potentially warp the outlook we obtain of our own lives, leading us to react to any future situations abnormally. The Mental Impact The conversation around the mental and emotional impact which can follow a traumatic life event is being increasingly recognised. Over time, we have been gaining an understanding that unresolved ..read more

Intergenerational trauma is a term used to describe the transmission of traumatic or oppressive effects of a historical event. As more and more people become aware of the concept, many may wonder if this is something they are experiencing. Intergenerational Trauma Explained Simply put, intergenerational trauma is the trauma that is passed from trauma survivors to their descendants. It is also known as transgenerational trauma and was first recognised in the children of Holocaust survivors. Intergenerational trauma can be passed down from parent to child if the parent experienced childhood abu ..read more

Pregnancy and childbirth are often hailed as one of the most special times in a woman’s life. However, giving birth can be an incredibly traumatic and terrifying experience for some women. Many can even develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after difficult deliveries and pregnancies, which can affect them years into the future. During Pregnancy With the physical and hormonal changes that it brings, pregnancy can be a challenging time for all women. It can also affect a woman’s mental health, making them incredibly anxious or depressed. However, for some women who already have PTSD, pr ..read more

Millions of people worldwide use mindfulness to keep in touch with the present and distance themselves from distressing thoughts and memories. Mindful practices can help those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manage their symptoms, reduce stress, and develop key skills. What Is Mindfulness? At its core, mindfulness is when you notice what is happening in the present moment. Although it sounds easy, mindfulness can be quite difficult for some people, as many distractions of modern life can crop up, and distressing thoughts can resurface. Mindfulness can help people with ..read more

Neuroplasticity is a term that you may have heard used in relation to trauma treatment. It discusses how the brain changes and adapts and how new pathways can be created in response to trauma and recovery. What Is Neuroplasticity? The brain is home to around 100 billion neurons. Initially, scientists thought that the creation of new neurons stopped soon after birth, but it has since been proven that the brain can create new pathways, neurons, and connections throughout life. This is the concept of neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to create new pathways and neurons. There are two type ..read more

Many people experience the desire to shrink and hide away from the world on occasion. Maybe they have made a large blunder or are incredibly anxious and want to disappear from sight. But what about those who feel this way all the time? Trying to shrink yourself from the world and take up less space is common for those who have a history of trauma. Why Do People Try to Take Up Less Space? Everyone deserves to take up space in the world. Even if it is hard to believe, it is true! However, it can be a struggle to acknowledge this, especially if you have a traumatic history. People may try to shr ..read more

Today is World Sleep Day, a day that raises awareness of the importance of sleep and the benefits it can bring. This year’s theme is ‘Quality Sleep, Sound Mind, Happy World’, focusing on the relationship between sleep and mental health. Sleep affects mental health and vice versa. Trauma especially can have a lasting impact on how people sleep, and it can also make symptoms worse. Trauma and the Body The body reacts strongly when faced with a potential threat. There are several options that it might take: Fight – arguing with or retaliating against the threat. The fight response can include s ..read more