Signs Of Traumatic Stress
by Leila McKay, MA, LPC

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Experiences of trauma and loss can affect us so deeply that months and even years later; we still feel the impact in out daily lives. Some common sighs of traumatic stress in adults and children are:

- Depression
- Feeling "stuck"
- Feelings of panic/anxiety
- Nightmares
- Involuntary response to "triggers"
- Physical ailments like back and headaches
- Flashbacks
- Intrusive memories
- eating/sleep disorders
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Suicidal tendencies
- Self-harm
- Grief
- Denial
- Anger/rage
- Guilt/shame
- Feeling out of control
- Low self-esteem
- Emotional outbursts
- Emotional numbing
- Emotional swings
- "Doomsday" thinking
- Hypervigilance
- Difficulty trusting
- Amnesia of the traumatic event
- Restlessness
- Poor problem solving
- Difficulty making decisions

Symptoms of traumatic stress are often misdiagnosed. If you or your child suffer from several of these complaints and have experienced a traumatic event; it is important that you seek professional help.

At HeartQuest Counseling, our goal is to help you resolve the aftermath of traumatic events and gain tools for living your life to the fullest. Because trauma affects us on all levels, HeartQuest Counseling is committed to being a healing presence for those we work with through mind, body, and spiritual awareness.

Author's Bio
Leila McKay is a contemplative psychotherapist specializing in trauma resolution. She is in private practice in Austin, Texas, where she works with adults, couples, and children, aged 3 and up.