A lot of people do not seek trauma therapy until they have been flooded with responses and memories from their “parts.” If you remember correctly, the “parts” are what often happens when people develop depersonalization, chronic depression or other symptoms. This is often falsely diagnosed as dissociative identity disorder, but the presence of certain symptoms can help us understand what is really happening. Let’s take a look at what those symptoms are.
Internal Splitting
It is easy to identify the signs of internal splitting. For example, a person may function very well at work, but when they get home, they are faced with triggers that are associated with their home environment. Another example might be a person who verbalizes a fear of being abandoned, but at the same time, they push away anyone who tries to get close to them.
Trauma victims tend to have intense fears toward their triggers, but they may not have any appropriate fear at all toward any real threats. It is clear that there is internal splitting. What’s more, victims may report that treatments they have received in the past didn’t work, or that they ended in a strange way.
Somatic Symptoms
There are several somatic symptoms that can be signs of dissociative activity. Some people have:
It is quite common for people to not respond well to medications to treat any of these symptoms. In her book, Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors, Janina Fisher says, “In these instances, parts are communicating somatically: blinking or drooping of the eyelids often signals dissociative switching: a collapsed left shoulder and a tense, raised right shoulder might be evidence of a submissive part on the non-dominate side of the body and a part ready to fight connected to the physically stronger dominant side of the body.”
Regressive Behaviors or Thought Patterns
Some trauma victims’ behaviors, thoughts and body language appear more typical of a child than of an adult. They might seem to be shy or afraid. They may have trouble making eye contact with others. The message they send is one of fear, and their thinking tends to be very black and white.
Self-Sabotaging Behavioral Patterns
Trauma victims often do not have the ability to make small, ordinary decisions. They may have trouble following through with their expressed intentions, which can result in a lot of conflict internally. This is typically seen through frequent job changes or relationship changes. They tend to be quite self-destructive, but yet, they also tend to work hard.
Memory Gaps
Many people with dissociative disorders report having memory problems, or they may lose time. But when these are more subtle, it can indicate the presence of dissociation related to trauma. It is not uncommon for trauma victims to experience many or even all of the following:
Addictive and Self-Destructive Behaviors
There is a part of trauma victims that want everything to be normal. But there is another part of them that engages in high-risk behaviors. They may try to harm themselves in some way, or even end their own lives as a way to escape their memories. Using drugs and alcohol, cutting and even eating disorders may be present.
Trauma Therapy Can Help
So many people suffer with the symptoms above, and they often do so in silence. Trauma therapy can help. If you would like to make an appointment with me, please contact me. Together, we can find the best way for you to get the healing you need.
