Up: [[Trauma]] Created: 2024-01-03 This is a partial list. ## Often the First Symptoms to Appear Immediately After an Overwhelming Event - Hyperarousal — sweating, difficulty breathing, tingling, muscular tension. Repetitious thoughts, racing mind, worry. - Constriction — feeling numb and shut down - [[Dissociation]] — like the Woody Allen line *I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.* A favourite trauma response for many. - Denial — acting as though a situation either didn’t occur or as if it wasn’t important. ## Other Symptoms from the Same Time or Shortly After - Intrusive imagery or flashbacks - Exaggerated emotional and startle responses - Shame and lack of self-worth ## Often Later, Even Years Later - Mental blankness or spaced-out feeling - Avoiding places, activities, memories, or people - Overeating - Inability to love, nurture or bond with others - Fear of dying or having a shortened life. ## Symptoms that Often Take Longer to Develop - Thyroid problems - Psychosomatic illnesses, especially headaches and neck problems Trauma symptoms can be ever-present. Or they can reappear at times of stress. Or they can be hidden for decades and suddenly show up. They usually come in groups and often become more complex over time, less and less connected with the original trauma experience. Re-enacting early traumas is fairly typical. > [!User] Peter Levine, *Healing Trauma * (p.20-23)