All of us should be aware of these signs of hidden trauma!
Studies reveal that a significant portion of the population has experienced a traumatic event, with estimates ranging from 70% to 90%. When we say traumatic events, we mean dangerous or shocking experiences that affected us. Things like wars, natural disasters, serious illnesses, car accidents, abuse, or any other experience that altered our sense of well-being.
What is important to point out is that even if traumatic experiences leave a mark, it is not always a visible one. Some traumas trigger obvious emotional responses, such as flight or fight, but others leave hidden scars that will definitely impact our lives.
The problem with this is that hidden traumas leave the individual feeling unexpanded emotional symptoms and, in some cases, even physical symptoms.
Learn how to identify the effects caused by your past experiences with these signs of hidden trauma. Get ready to take the first steps towards healing.
1. Anxiety
This is a common emotion, and many daily stressors can trigger it. You might have probably felt anxiety before a doctor’s appointment or during a fight with an important person, but today we want to talk about that anxiety, which is one of the signs of hidden trauma.
When anxiety is debilitating and has a constant presence in your life, causing panic attacks, this can be an indicator of past experiences that are slowly lurking beneath the surface.
It is a well-known fact that trauma leads our nervous system into overdrive, and this makes us hyper-alert to the potential dangers around us. But after the threat is gone, our bodies can remain in that state, and this can cause a chronic feeling of worry and unease.
Among the signs of hidden trauma, we can find everyday situations that pose no real danger but still activate intense anxiety. For example, for many people, loud noises and crowded spaces might bring back the feelings of helplessness that were experienced during a traumatic event.
If you experience excessive anxiety that is disproportionate to the situation, you should explore the possibility of past trauma.
2. Avoidant behavior
One thing about humans is that we thrive on social connections. It is one of our fundamental needs, yet some individuals struggle because they feel a persistent urge to isolate themselves. This avoidant behavior can be one of the signs of a hidden trauma.
But why is this happening? Let’s explore deeper and see why this avoidant pattern is caused by trauma.
When we go through a traumatic experience, our sense of trust and safety can be shattered. Maybe the world used to be a place for exploration, but now it has transformed into a minefield full of potential threats. We want to be careful and never experience those bad emotions again.
So what do some people do? They develop a strong aversion to people and situations that trigger memories of the trauma. Now, this pattern of avoidant behavior can manifest in many different ways, ranging from avoiding social gatherings to being fearful about new romantic relationships.
If some social interactions trigger discomfort and anxiety, and this persists and you feel the need to withdraw, this might be one of the signs of hidden trauma.
3. Sleep issues
Sleep is the time our minds and bodies need to recharge, but when you carry the weight of trauma, nights can become long, and the lack of sleep can drain you completely.
Insomnia, vivid nightmares, and disrupted sleep patterns can all be signs of hidden trauma, and it would be a good idea to address them as soon as possible.
The mind will be on high alert, and because of this, it might replay traumatizing memories over and over again during the night. A lack of sleep can negatively impact daily functions, and this is how a vicious cycle is created.
Nightmares can be devastating for those who have experienced trauma, as they can transport you back to the traumatic experience. This will exacerbate the negative feelings and lead to frustration and irritability.
These anxiety-inducing sleepless nights can be one of the signs of hidden trauma, and it is crucial to explore further if this impacts your daily life.
4. Black-and-white thinking
Life is mostly made up of shades of gray, and this is why a person who has black-and-white thinking might find it hard to adapt. But when someone struggles with past trauma, their whole life can become a place of absolutes, leading to past experiences that collude with their present perception.
Trauma destroys our sense of security and control, and this can lead some people to develop rigid thinking patterns in an attempt to regain this lost control.
The black-and-white thinking means that those affected by it will label experiences and real people as good and bad. There is no in-between, and it can lead to harsh, unfounded judgment.
Someone who has been betrayed, for example, may be suspicious of everyone and find it difficult to trust anyone’s motives. Similarly, a person who has had a catastrophic failure may struggle with self-compassion, describing themselves as total failures at any setback.
Black-and-white thinking is a defensive mechanism that simplifies the world around us and gives us a false sense of control. It is also one of the signs of hidden trauma and can negatively impact our interpersonal relationships.
5. Revictimization
Healing your trauma is a journey. And as with any journey, this one can also be filled with obstacles. One of the most dangerous ones and also one of the signs of hidden trauma is revictimization. This is an unconscious pattern when individuals repeat actions and manage to attract situations and people that mirror the initial trauma.
Trauma survivors might try to regain control by recreating the dynamics of the past, and this can manifest in various ways, from engaging in self-destructive behavior to choosing unavailable partners. All of these are forms of revictimization.
Let’s say that someone suffered from childhood neglect. These people might subconsciously seek that familiarity, and they might find people who are cold to them and don’t show much affection.
Revictimization is one of the clear signs of hidden trauma, and repeating these patterns will only reopen the wounds and create distress. If you recognize these tendencies, you can seek professional help and try to break the pattern.
6. Missing memories
Imagine memory as a large piece of tapestry. There are many threads that are entangled, and they represent your whole life. For those who have suffered trauma, it is a rather common occurrence to experience gaps in memory. For them, the tapestry may have some holes, and these are the experiences that are buried deep within the subconscious as a defense mechanism.
Our brains want to protect us, and because of this, they try to act like nothing bad has ever happened. This is why many people who try to reimagine the trauma they experienced have a hard time, and all of their memories are blurry and incoherent.
There is also dissociation, which is another coping mechanism that creates a disconnection from feelings and thoughts and also leads to physical symptoms. Our bodies might try to act as a shield against trauma, and this can create further complications. These dissociative episodes can also create gaps in memory.
If you are curious to find out more about trauma and how it works this book might be a good read: The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma
You should also read: 10 Subtle Signs a Past Trauma Is Affecting Your Marriage
