If you are feeling betrayed or neglected by someone you trust, you could be experiencing relational trauma. So, what is relational trauma?
Relational trauma is the aftereffect of abuse, suffering, and neglect. Knowing what to look for to assess these emotions can help you down the right path to enjoying a more rewarding life.
Relational Trauma Explained
Understanding the signs and symptoms of relational trauma can help you or a family member overcome the trauma you might be experiencing.
Relational Trauma Signs
- Attachment Issues. Maintaining or forming attachments in new relationships can prove to be difficult.
- Social Withdrawal. Struggling to trust others can cause one to avoid social interactions and prefer to be alone.
- People-Pleasing Behavior. Excessively prioritizes others’ needs over one’s well-being to avoid conflict or rejection.
- Difficulty Trusting Others. Assuming the worst in relationships, being overly cautious, and worrying about intentions can create challenges in establishing and maintaining trusting relationships.
Relational Trauma Symptoms
- Hypervigilance. Being on high alert for discomforting situations to arise in relationships can cause stress and anxiety. One might have their guard up to avoid fixating on what went wrong in previous scenarios.
- Self-esteem issues. Confidence levels decrease, and feelings of worthlessness and guilt increase.
- Emotional Dysregulation. Having difficulty managing the inconsistent patterns of emotions and dealing with mood swings caused by stress, anxiety, and sadness.
- Physical Symptoms. Fatigue and chronic pain are physical symptoms that lead to health problems. One should also keep close track of the increased risk of medical conditions already present.
Get help with Relational Trauma
Dealing with this type of trauma can be a complex process. Some tips to help facilitate healing are:
- Therapy Seeking therapy can provide a safe place for you to dive into your emotions and develop strategies on how to cope.
- Set Boundaries Knowing that you can set boundaries in relationships can further help you build trust in others.
- Education and Understanding Researching relational trauma and knowing the signs and symptoms can help you to make sense of your emotions and how to move forward.
Taking the first step into the healing process can be hard. At Deer Hollow, we use various proven tools and approaches to help people move forward in their healing journeys. Whether you are looking for strategies to help you cope or need that one-on-one care—we are with you every step of the way.
Reach out to Deer Hollow for help learning what relational trauma is and how we can help. We’re in this together!