Trauma and Loss

Trauma and loss happens to everyone. Whether  a single incident or  more complicated situation, counseling interventions/treatments can increase the likelihood of overcoming these difficult times. In times of divorce, death, major life changes, chronic illness, and natural aging; counseling can be vital to achieving a state of well-being again.

There are 3 forms of trauma:

• Acute — a single incident causing the trauma.
• Chronic — generally caused by prolonged, repeated situations.  Domestic/partner abuse or violence
• Complex — which can be a combination of chronic abuse and a single precipitating event or incident. Often referred to C-PTSD or complex PTSD 

There are 8 types of Grief/Loss:

• Anticipatory — (lesser known type) loss is experienced before actual loss occurs. 
• Common — usually non-debilitating. Intensity of feelings are generally worked through until they decrease in intensity and a person finds a “new-normal” he/she can exist in and manage.
• Complicated — (Small percentage of people experience) people are prevented from participating in their daily routine and are “shut-down”.
• Delayed — feelings of loss increases over time, seeming to have a delayed emergence.  Initial loss is not fully actualized and emerges later.
• Inhibited — feelings are deflected by focusing on or turning attention onto others needs; allowing persons who experienced the loss to be distracted and avoid feelings.
• Disenfranchised — often unsupported/unaccepted by those around.
  • Examples:
    • issues with pets (death or loss)
    • non-family member situation/loss
    • part of ourselves (loss of body function or physical body part)
    • racism/discrimination/opression
• Absent –(similar to inhibited) feelings are silenced and the person carries on as if nothing is wrong, however he/she is in a state of extreme denial, avoidance, and not accepting the reality of the situation.
• Exaggerated — (like C-PTSD in many ways) several losses at the same time or over a short period of time.  Left untreated persons can become severely depressed.