Recover

The Signs of Emotional Abuse Trauma

Mental and emotional abuse can take a serious toll on anyone who has been on the receiving end of it. The trauma that comes from the abuse can look many different ways, because the abuse can alter your sense of confidence, safety, security, trust and self-worth. You may lack energy, motivation or interest to do even the most basic or normal things you need to do in order to take care of yourself and function properly. We all respond to trauma in different ways, and while there are no “right” or “wrong” ways to come to terms with significant events, there are definitely some common trauma signs and symptoms to be aware of. Emotional and mental abuse trauma symptoms include:

·       Denial or shock

·       Lack of memory

·       Anger, irritability and mood fluctuations

·       Fear, anxiety and excessive worrying

·       Feelings of sadness or hopelessness

·       Confusion and second guessing yourself

·       Lack of focus and difficulty staying on task

·       Heightened sense of danger and alertness

·       Difficulty building connections with others

·       Feeling withdrawn and disconnected from people and life

·       Denying the impact or extent of an abusive event or that it even happened

·       Feeling overwhelmed by life

·       Spacing out and forgetting things

·       Feeling unsafe even after you are out of the abuse

·       You are emotional, sad and constantly cry

·       You have low or no motivation

·       Have a hard time thinking or concentrating

·       You are easily triggered by events or conversations

·       You feel negative about everything

·       You have a hard time making decisions or reaching conclusions

·       You don’t trust yourself or your feelings

·       You are isolating yourself from others

·       Feeling empty, helpless, trapped or weighed down

·       You’ve lost your sense of purpose and direction

·       You feel worthless, like a nobody

·       You struggle to forgive yourself, others or your abuser

·       You feel lost or disconnected from the world, others and God

Trauma not only affects our mental health but it can also disrupt our physical health as well. Some of the physical effects of trauma include:

·       Fatigue and low energy

·       Lack of self-care

·       Nightmares

·       Disordered eating

·       Elevated or racing heartbeat

·       Muscle tension

·       Aches and pains

·       Being startled easily

·       Chronic illness

·       Feeling withdrawn and disconnected from people and life

·       Engaging in risky behaviors or addictions

·       Constant feeling of exhaustion

·       Constant headaches or indigestion

·       You just don’t feel like yourself

·       Insomnia, restless sleep or unusual sleep patterns

In many cases, the signs and triggers of trauma are often connected with exposure to sights, sounds or experiences that may remind you of your abuser or specific events in your abusive relationship.