Trauma can have a profound impact on how you perceive yourself and the world. It can change the way you think, feel, and behave, leaving you feeling lost, alone, and disconnected. The impact of trauma can be devastating, both mentally and physically, and can manifest in a variety of ways.
One common way in which trauma can impact your perception is hypervigilance. You may feel constantly on guard, never able to relax or let your guard down. You may feel as though danger is always lurking around the corner, and as a result, you may avoid social situations altogether. This can leave you feeling isolated and alone, with few meaningful connections in your life.
Negative self-beliefs are another common manifestation of trauma. You may believe that you are fundamentally flawed or unworthy of love and attention. These beliefs can be incredibly damaging, and they can affect your self-esteem and confidence. You may struggle to form healthy relationships, and you may feel as though you are not deserving of happiness or success.
Distorted time perception is another way in which trauma can impact your perception. You may feel as though the traumatic event is still happening, even if it occurred many years ago. You may be plagued by flashbacks and nightmares, reliving the event over and over again. This can be incredibly distressing and can make it difficult for you to move on from the trauma.
Difficulty trusting others is another common manifestation of trauma. You may struggle to trust others, even those closest to you. You may be suspicious of others' motives, and you may find it difficult to form meaningful connections with others. This can leave you feeling isolated and alone, with few people you can turn to for support.
Emotional numbing is another way in which trauma can impact your perception. You may shut down emotionally, feeling as though you are unable to connect with others on a deep level. You may feel as though your emotions are too overwhelming to handle, and as a result, you may avoid them altogether. This can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself and others, with little sense of purpose or meaning in your life.
If you have experienced trauma, it is important to understand that the impact can be long-lasting and profound. It is not a simple matter of overcoming a single event or changing your mindset. Trauma can be an ongoing struggle that can affect every aspect of your life. It takes patience, compassion, and a willingness to listen and understand to help yourself find new ways of perceiving yourself and the world around you.
In conclusion, trauma can have a profound impact on how you perceive yourself and the world. It can lead to hypervigilance, negative self-beliefs, distorted time perception, difficulty trusting others, emotional numbing, and many other manifestations. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of therapy that has been shown to be effective in treating the impact of trauma on perception. This therapy is grounded in the idea that the way we think about ourselves and the world can have a profound impact on our emotions and behavior. One of the key components of CPT is the focus on changing your perspective on the traumatic event. The therapist may guide you through a process of understanding how the trauma has affected your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through this process, you may begin to develop a more balanced and realistic understanding of the event and its impact on your life.
CPT has been shown to be effective in treating a range of conditions related to trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. It is a structured and evidence-based therapy that has been extensively researched and shown to be effective in clinical trials. If you are struggling with the impact of trauma on your perception, seeking the support of a trained therapist who offers CPT in trauma counselling may be a helpful step towards healing and recovery. Debra provides this services with online trauma counselling Australia-wide and in person in the Redlands in Brisbane.
Debra Bragança is a registered Counsellor with The Australian Counselling Association and works with both adults and couples impacted from trauma, anxiety, chronic illness, depression and relationship issues, including affairs. She is trained in a number of evidence-based therapies including CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) and Gottman Couples Therapy, including Affair Recovery.