orlando treatment for trauma & emotional neglect
Trauma can occur with any experience where a person's emotional and physical boundaries are violated, or where their life- or the life of a loved one- is jeopardized. Post-traumatic stress can occur following any number of experiences, including:
- childhood abuse or neglect,
- sexual assault,
- relationship violence,
- emotional neglect,
- natural disasters,
- car accidents, etc.
Trauma reactions not only contribute to distressing memories, or possibly re-experiencing the trauma, but can also have a profound impact on mood, relationships, sleep, substance use, eating habits, and motivation to stay engaged in activities you once found meaningful.
The good news is that we are equipped with incredible capacity for resilience and healing the face of trauma. With proper treatment, survivors of trauma can invite meaning and fulfillment back into their lives again.
What is emotional neglect or trauma?
Trauma reactions are often thought to be limited to circumstances where a person's life is overtly threatened. It is important to remember that while this is a component of the diagnosis for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), "trauma" itself is a much broader term.
Emotional Neglect is a subtle, often cumulative form of trauma where a person comes to believe over time that they are not worthy or lovable because their emotional needs are repeatedly minimized, not acknowledged, or unmet by their caregiver(s).
It is a trauma of being unseen or forgotten, as opposed to being overtly mistreated.
Survivors of emotional neglect and trauma may not outwardly look as if they have PTSD, but often experience chronic depression, low self esteem, anxiety, fear of failure, and core feelings of inadequacy.
evidence based treatment of trauma & Emotional Neglect
In the aftermath of a traumatic experience, it is quite normal for people to shut down or attempt to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma. However, research supports that when trauma memories or triggers are avoided, the traumatic response of fear, helplessness, and emotional despair is reinforced.
In order to overcome this cycle, effective treatment of PTSD helps you learn skills to fully face and recount the traumatic experience, while building up your coping skills to tolerate distress. This creates emotional space for you to reconnect with a sense of purpose in life and live without constant fear.
For survivors of emotional neglect and abuse, we will gently examine how your identity has been shaped over time by experiences of invalidation and help you learn to nurture yourself with renewed compassion.
At Orlando Wellness & Psychological Services, your treatment is informed by research based interventions, including Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT for emotional dysregulation, and insight-oriented exploration.
