Exploring the Link Between Trauma and Chronic Health Conditions
Explore the effects of trauma on chronic conditions. Learn effective chronic illness management strategies and uncover the link between trauma and chronic conditions now!
Research reveals that up to 80% of people with chronic conditions have experienced some form of trauma. At the same time, 10 to 50% of those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience chronic pain. Many people don't realize that past trauma directly influences not only their emotional well-being but their physical health, too.
Understanding this connection between trauma and chronic conditions is vital for enhancing overall health and well-being. So, let us guide you through how trauma may affect your physical health and what the link is between trauma and physical health.
Understanding Trauma and Chronic Illness
Trauma is an emotional response to intense and overwhelming events that disrupt our sense of safety, leading to feelings of helplessness and uncertainty. When we undergo trauma, our central nervous system sends our body into an immediate fight, flight, or freeze response. While this physiological reaction is intended to protect us, it can lead to inflammation, which, over time, may cause chronic health conditions that can significantly impair daily functioning.
The Biopsychosocial Effects of Trauma on Health
By disregulating the stress response, trauma can affect various biological, psychological, and social aspects of our being.
On a biological level, trauma can disrupt stress responses, potentially leading to chronic conditions like heart disease or autoimmune disorders. The body remembers trauma, and each time something reminds you of a traumatic event, this can cause the release of stress hormones. The continual activation of the stress response can result in persistent inflammation, negatively affecting the heart and immune system.
Research suggests that childhood trauma can change gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, which can have long-term effects on a person's health and make them more likely to develop chronic conditions.
Psychosocially, trauma can result in anxiety, depression, or PTSD, impacting how you think, feel, behave, and connect with others, potentially leading to mental health concerns, isolation, or social withdrawal.
Types of Chronic Illnesses Associated with Trauma
You may have developed high blood pressure or rheumatoid arthritis prematurely. Or you may have dealt with challenging eating habits and obesity since adolescence. If you were exposed to domestic violence, have been subjected to physical punishments, or have experienced emotional neglect, this can set off the chronic stress response. Accumulated stress from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), like family issues, neglect, or abuse, can continuously activate the body's stress responses. Over time, this persistent stress can lead to long-term health concerns like high blood pressure, heart conditions, digestive problems, autoimmune diseases, and chronic pain syndrome.
Many studies have confirmed the link between trauma and chronic health conditions. People who have been through trauma are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and mental health conditions like PTSD and depression.
For example, studies have found that those who have had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to develop heart disease.
If a person, for example, grew up in a family with parental abuse, stress could have repeatedly activated their body's stress responses. So, they may have had high blood pressure in their early years, which is a significant risk factor for heart disease. Part of the reason for this is the chronic stress response, which can raise blood pressure.
Trauma-Informed Approaches to Chronic Illness Management
Trauma-informed care approaches people experiencing chronic conditions by acknowledging how past trauma can affect their current health. The main ideas behind trauma-informed care are ensuring safety, building trust, giving choices, and empowering individuals on their healing journey.
At Williamson & Associates, we specialize in trauma-informed therapies such as:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): uses eye movements to reprocess traumatic memories, mimicking REM sleep, and reduces emotional distress associated with these memories.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) addresses and releases physical tensions left in the body from trauma, helping individuals work through sensations to regain natural balance.
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) combines yoga with trauma treatment to enhance body awareness and foster a sense of safety and control.
Emotionally Focused Individual (EFIT), Couple (EFCT), and Family (EFFT) Therapy treat trauma by fostering secure emotional attachments and helping people understand and express their emotions and needs in a way that strengthens relationships.
Trauma Therapy in Olds, Alberta
Recognizing and addressing trauma is key, particularly in managing chronic conditions. At Williamson & Associates, we believe that trauma-informed approaches to treating chronic illnesses allow individuals to feel more secure and involved in their care, which is especially important for reducing stress in those sensitive to past traumas.
If you're seeking support to navigate and heal from trauma, contact us today to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with Williamson & Associates Counselling.