Most people will experience events that have a significant negative impact on them at some point during their lives. Whether this is an unexpected breakup, car accident, physical altercation, or something else, these events can linger in the psyche for months or even years after they occur. However, some such instances begin to have such a profound impact on the person that they escalate into a diagnosable condition such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The good news is that both generalized emotional trauma and PTSD can benefit from individual therapy. Many people who are experiencing difficulties after a traumatic event wonder if they have developed PTSD and what to do about it.
Only a small number of individuals who have endured something traumatic emerge with PTSD (numbers can range from the low single digits to almost 20% depending on age, type of trauma, and more). Others may experience emotional trauma that does not qualify for PTSD diagnosis.
How can individuals tell the difference, and what should they do afterward? It is helpful to understand the primary differences between PTSD and general emotional trauma, including their symptoms and how therapy can address each effectively.
PTSD vs. Emotional Trauma: Similarities and Differences
Post-traumatic stress disorder and emotional trauma can both arise after someone has experienced an event that is profoundly impactful in a negative way.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition in which a person has difficulty recovering (emotionally and/or mentally) after a traumatic event. About half of those who are diagnosed with PTSD experience it for a specific period of time, after which the symptoms resolve due to treatment such as individual therapy. Among those whose PTSD does not fully resolve, nearly all respond favorably to therapy and see a notable reduction in symptoms.
Emotional Trauma
Emotional trauma can also occur after a stressful event, and it can cause a person to experience a lasting emotional response to that specific event. Those with emotional trauma tend to improve with time as the event recedes further into the past. However, they may develop new and unhealthy behavior patterns, such as avoidance, that can last well into the future.
What’s Similar
Both PTSD and emotional trauma can have a significant impact on someone’s life. They both:
- Influence a person’s life for a considerable amount of time after a traumatic event
- Cause emotional dysregulation, such as a sense of lack of safety
- Arise from a negative event, even if the individual was not present for the event (e.g., the death of a child who lived in another state)
- May lead to an individual adjusting their lifestyle around the trauma by developing new and potentially problematic habits to cope
What’s Different
Despite the similarities between emotional trauma and PTSD, they are distinct conditions.
- PTSD lasts longer than emotional trauma; while emotional trauma can be intense, it tends to decrease in severity over time
- PTSD can leave an individual paralyzed with difficult emotions or flashbacks, rendering them unable to perform their daily tasks and responsibilities the way they want to
- The symptoms of PTSD may be more intense than those of emotional trauma, such as vivid flashbacks or the sensation of physically re-experiencing the event
How Individual Therapy Can Address Trauma
Both PTSD and emotional trauma are valid conditions that can benefit from individual therapy to address both the underlying causes and the impact the event has had on a person’s life.
Emotional Trauma
Individuals with emotional trauma often participate in individual therapy to reduce the impact that the traumatic event has on their psyche. They may learn how to reframe the event in their minds and find coping mechanisms to calm their emotional state when things become difficult. Therapy can also help a person understand why they think the way they do and how to amend those thoughts into pathways that serve them, not harm them.
PTSD
Those who have PTSD can also grow through therapy. They may focus more on addressing the trauma rather than repressing it, thus decreasing the body’s sympathetic (fight or flight) response over time. Participants also focus on learning to acknowledge their feelings and then continue onward rather than becoming “stuck” in that emotional state. With therapy, the majority of individuals experiencing PTSD make significant strides or even overcome their symptoms with time.
Get Individual Therapy to Cope With Traumatic Events
A traumatic event can linger in a person’s psyche for a long time, even for the rest of their lives. However, the impact of this event does not have to dictate how they feel or behave. It is normal to need some recovery time after a challenging event. Still, if you are finding that you cannot seem to move forward, individual therapy can help. Contact Village Counseling today to schedule a therapy appointment and get back on the road to the life you want to live after trauma.