Trauma therapy Spain
We see it all the time – clients who are surprised to learn that the emotional (and sometimes even physical) challenges they are dealing with in the present can often be traced back to painful events from a long time ago, for some even decades.
When someone is deep in addiction or they experience other emotional difficulties like anxiety or depression, it can be challenging for them to see beyond their symptoms and get to the truth of things.
For many, the focus is all about survival, getting through the next hour, day, or even minutes in whatever way feels manageable and safe.
For those who have endured a lot of trauma in their lives, ‘coping’ can manifest as chronic drinking, compulsive shopping or a spiky nervous system where at times the person may feel depressed, and at others, utterly consumed by anxiety or dread.
Unresolved trauma is often at the root of all this, but many of us are unaware of this process, which can affect our mental health, even years after something distressing happens.
Symptoms are often the solution, not the problem
Because of how trauma is stored in the body, many of us are unaware of the lasting impact that adverse experiences, even if they happened a long time ago, may be having on our current lives.
For instance, someone who drinks alcohol every day may not associate these behaviours with unresolved trauma from childhood, like their parents separating or a close family member passing away.
Conversely, a person who becomes addicted to the rush of gambling may not link their desire for continuous dopamine hits with avoidance or the need to escape painful memories.
As uncomfortable as they may be, our ‘symptoms’ are not the problem, but rather the solution.
They are vital pieces of information that, if we listen closely enough, can guide us to the root cause of our suffering, empowering us to take control of our recovery journey.
But we understand that all this is easier said than done, particularly when you feel overwhelmed, exhausted or consumed by symptoms that don’t seem to want to budge.
Why does trauma affect your mental health – even years later?
Think of it this way.
When we are faced with a crisis or emergency, our brains can only process so much at one time. There may be a lot of noise in our environment. Shouting. Movement.
But regardless of the experience itself, the goal of the nervous system is always about safety and survival. A brilliant system, yes, helpful in an emergency? Absolutely.
However, these memories, particularly the more painful or traumatic ones, tend to get stored in the brain and body in a way that is less organised than everyday memories or experiences.
As a result, these memories can often become fragmented, meaning the narrative around the experiences may not be as cohesive as the less intense ones.
They may be more vivid, persistent, and unpleasant.
This is why many individuals with PTSD experience symptoms like flashbacks and re-experiencing.
Among other reasons, these symptoms are the brain’s attempt at completing the original stress response, something it couldn’t do when the event or crisis was happening because it simply wasn’t safe enough.
Again, the body’s priority here is survival over processing.
Inherently, trauma leaves a trace in the body and can be found in various areas of a person’s life, including their mental health.
Until these internal conflicts are resolved, they may continue to impact an individual’s emotional well-being and may show up as addiction, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, even years after the event.
Memory encoding
One of the most phenomenal models that may help us build an understanding of how traumatic events are stored in the body is memory encoding.
Think of this as your brain and body creating a file for distressing memories or frightening experiences, making it easier to access when needed.
During a traumatic or frightening event, our brains prioritise safety over the encoding of coherent memories or narratives.
Now, this is where things can get quite scientific.
Still, it’s a truly remarkable framework that explains how traumatic or distressing memories, such as a car accident or a painful breakup, are filed in the brain and body.
During a stressful event, the amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure in the brain, becomes activated.
This activation is part of the brain’s early warning system, responsible for detecting threats and danger. It’s like a built-in alarm that goes off when we’re under threat, triggering our body’s fight-or-flight response.
At the same time, our bodies release specific stress hormones that can disrupt the normal functioning of the hippocampus, which plays a vital role in memory formation.
When stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released, they can disrupt the normal functioning of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for forming new memories and recalling past experiences.
This disruption can cause the hippocampus to ‘super-encode’ the intense earlier moments of the memory, such as the sound of screeching brakes during a car accident or the feeling of rejection during a painful breakup, making them more vivid and impactful than other memories.
When this happens, we may adopt distorted beliefs and generally feel unsafe in the world and distrustful of others.
Childhood trauma
In childhood trauma, many people have little to no memory of what happened to them.
Under these circumstances, trauma is more of a ‘felt sense’ in the body, leaving a lasting imprint on a person’s mind, body, and soul.
These processes are primarily unconscious but may drive an individual’s behaviour, choices, self-concept, and beliefs throughout their entire lives, affecting their mental health, relationships, and sense of safety in the world.
Repeated experiences of early adversity can also be stored in the body through the development of emotional and sensory memories.
For instance, an individual who experienced a traumatic event in childhood may have intense flashbacks or nightmares triggered by specific sounds, sights, smells or even words that remind them of the event.
These sensory triggers may activate the body’s stress response, reawakening stored trauma and emotional wounds from the past, which can affect an individual’s physical and mental health, even years later.
Our issues are in our tissues
The invisible burden of early adversity can not only have a detrimental impact on an individual’s mental health but also their physical well-being.
Traumatic experiences are often stored in our muscles, cells, and tissues, almost like the body becomes a container, holding all the memories and experiences from the past.
Many individuals who experienced childhood trauma often develop health problems such as chronic pain, headaches, skin disorders, or digestive issues later on.
Some experts believe that these disease processes are the body’s way of expressing past trauma through physical symptoms.
Hence, the saying, our issues are in our tissues.
Addressing and treating trauma
As we’ve learned so far, trauma is multifaceted and can affect many areas of a person’s life, including their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and well-being.
Whether you struggle with addiction or other mental health issues, the key is to treat trauma in the same way it impacts the individual: Holistically.
This approach primarily involves addressing and releasing stored trauma in the body through a range of evidence-based treatments and somatic therapies, which focus on the body’s physical sensations and experiences to help facilitate recovery.
Somatic approaches may include techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, exploring sensations to help gain awareness, and body movement (like gentle swaying or rocking).
These somatic techniques can help you gain a deeper understanding of your experience beyond your conscious awareness.
The body knows more than we give it credit for, and by tapping into it, we create a somatic path to awareness that cannot be achieved through the mind alone.
Body-based treatment approaches
In addition, evidence-based treatments such as EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) can help individuals release stored trauma through specific movements like bilateral, side-to-side eye movements and other techniques.
EMDR uses specific eye movements, sound and physical stimulation to help activate both sides of the brain, which encourages the release of stored emotions attached to each memory.
This treatment takes a two-pronged approach:
First, it helps release painful emotions and negative memories stored in the brain.
Second, it helps the brain to successfully reprocess these experiences so they no longer cause such distress to the individual.
Other effective treatment approaches for addressing trauma may include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
- Equine therapy
- Group and family support
- Art therapy
- Holistic and wellness programmes
EMDR therapy Spain
At Camino Recovery, we work with individuals who have experienced various types of trauma and co-occurring mental health challenges.
Through our comprehensive, personalised EMDR programme, we gently guide clients through the process of revisiting traumatic or painful memories in a way that feels safe, supportive and aligned with their needs and goals.
Our trauma-informed team of experienced professionals will work with you to gain knowledge and new perspectives that can help you choose your actions and behaviours instead of feeling powerless over your emotions and choices.
Our evidence-based treatment programmes and compassionate, holistic approach can help guide you toward a life that is both transformative and empowering – one that allows you to see beyond your past so you can focus on a brighter, more promising future.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with issues related to the past or you want to learn more about our trauma or addiction treatment programmes, contact our clinical team today, who will gladly assist.
You are not alone in these struggles. Help and support are only a phone call away.
