Consequences of Unprocessed Trauma

The Silent Struggle: Unraveling the Consequences of Unprocessed Trauma

In the complex and unpredictable stories of our lives, traumatic experiences often leave chapters of our lives, unseen and often unacknowledged. For those who have walked the challenging path of trauma, the consequences of leaving wounds unhealed can be profound and far-reaching. In this blog post, we'll explore the silent struggle that accompanies unprocessed trauma and shed light on why addressing these wounds is crucial for personal growth, well-being, and your medical care.

The Invisible Chains of Unprocessed Trauma:

Trauma, like an invisible force, can shape the lens through which we perceive the world. Unprocessed trauma may manifest in various ways, affecting our emotional, mental, and even physical well-being. One consequence is the persistent re-living of painful memories, as if caught in a loop that refuses to release its grip.

Emotional Rollercoaster:

Unaddressed trauma can give rise to intense and unpredictable emotional responses. From sudden outbursts of anger to overwhelming sadness, the emotional rollercoaster becomes a constant companion. Understanding and processing these emotions is essential for regaining emotional stability and finding a path to healing.

Impact on Relationships:

The aftermath of trauma can echo in our relationships whether that is romantic, family, friendship, or professional, creating barriers that hinder genuine connection. Unprocessed trauma may lead to difficulty in trusting others, fear of vulnerability, and a sense of isolation. Exploring these challenges with empathy and openness is a crucial step towards building deep and meaningful connections.

The Body Keeps the Score:

Chronic pain, a battle I am intimately familiar with, can often be a physical manifestation of unprocessed trauma. The body, in its wisdom, retains the memory of past wounds. I have seen first hand what unprocessed trauma can do to our physical bodies. Because of my unprocessed trauma, my physical body started working against me while trying to protect me because I was physically injured. I know this doesn’t make sense right now, but keep reading. Exploring holistic approaches to healing, such as reaching out to a mental health professional, meditation and prayer, massage therapy, osteo-manipulations, acupuncture, journaling, exercise such as Yoga, Pilates, or Better Bones & Balance Fitness can be a powerful ally in addressing both the emotional and physical aspects of trauma.

Breaking the Silence through Healing:

The journey towards healing begins with breaking the silence surrounding unprocessed trauma. I had to first break the silence with the medical professionals that were involved with my care a couple years ago. At first, the specialists had no idea about my trauma history. They could not figure out why my pain was so significant which was very debilitating and resulting in my PTSD to be active and the worst symptoms I had ever experienced. They could not understand why my thigh muscles were knotted up like a rope and every time someone touched me it hurt so bad. Later, we found out it was my body’s way of protecting me because of the unprocessed trauma. They actually did not know how to help me and I was feeling alone yet once again.

It wasn’t until I wrote a letter to one of the specialists after reading my after care summary that he thought I had a previous “fall” when I was younger. I wrote a letter to him explaining my complicated trauma story as I had not shared my physical assault story with my current medical team. I had not talked about my physical assault for over 20 years with any medical professional because I had “put it behind me and I wasn’t going to allow it to affect my life.” The only medical professionals that knew my trauma story were the doctors that treated me when the physical assault happened when I was 17-years-old. Once he read my real story, he better understood what we were facing and why I was in this vicious cycle. He responded back to thank me for sharing my trauma story with him. He told me that he was going to share with the other specialists involved in my care so they knew how to better serve me.

Long story short, what the specialist originally thought he was doing surgery on to repair a “small labral tear” ended up being completely different. My labrum wasn’t torn as was thought to be seen on the imaging. Instead, he fixed the impingement and the instability in my hip which validated my long history of chronic pain and trauma story. The reason I am sharing this with you is because I know how difficult it is to communicate with a medical professional that you don’t know and you only have 15-30 minutes with them especially if they don’t know the questions to ask. Most of us trauma survivors don’t know how to communicate our trauma stories even when it relates to our medical care. Remember that staying silent keeps trauma going and cycles back through as in my vicious cycle of “flare ups” for the past 25 years.

As a trauma survivor and Chronic Pain Warrior, my personal experience can serve as a beacon of hope for others to share their story with their medical professionals. Don’t be afraid to share with your medical team. If you are uncomfortable talking to them about it, maybe send a letter or email through the patient portal. It is important for your medical team to understand you as a person including your personal experiences.

Conclusion:
The consequences of not processing trauma are profound, affecting our emotional landscape, relationships, physical well-being, and medical care. By acknowledging the silent struggle within, embracing the emotional rollercoaster, and nurturing meaningful connections, we can pave the way for our emotional, relational, and physical healing.