The Wounded Deer, 1946 by Frida Kahlo.
Stressful events or challenging life circumstances can trigger strong emotional reactions, especially when they are unexpected, frightening, or perceived as a threat. The impact of such events is not limited to war zones, combat experiences, or instances of violence – they can happen anywhere and at any time. While we may not always have control over the circumstances in our lives, we can influence how we process and respond to them. The way we react to difficult experiences can have long-term effects on our relationships, work performance, and overall well-being.
Anima helps you to identify how damaging a stressful event was for you personally. It helps you to measure your nervous system activation and define whether you are safe from developing any major mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
In some cases, prolonged or intense stress can contribute to trauma – a psychological response that occurs when an event overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Symptoms of trauma include shock, denial, mood swings, and hypervigilance. Trauma is often caused by single events, such as wars or violent assaults, but it can also be caused by sustained stress over time, such as bullying or childhood neglect. People who experience stressful events often have difficulty dealing with their emotions and behaviors after their traumatic event has occurred due to the severity of their emotional response and feelings of fear and vulnerability following the event.
You may be surprised to learn how many people have experienced stressful events in their lives:
During a traumatic event, your brain is on high alert and in survival mode. It focuses on the present rather than the future; this is called “the now.” In this state of hypervigilance, your body and mind are focused on staying alive at all costs. You’re not thinking about tomorrow or next week; you’re only thinking about how to get out of danger right now—and how much it hurts! When the threat is over, however, you may feel completely different: numb and disconnected from what just happened.
The symptoms of trauma are often similar to those of other mental health conditions. Common symptoms include:
Trauma is a risk factor for mental illness and physical health problems [1]. It’s important to know the signs of trauma, as it can be difficult to identify on your own or with others. If you are experiencing or have experienced trauma, it’s best to seek help through the following steps:
If you’re dealing with trauma and its aftermath, it’s important to remember that there are many ways to recover. A therapist can help you explore the cause of your trauma, develop coping techniques, and work towards improving your mental health. Meditation, exercise, and relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation classes—all of these things can help you reduce stress levels and relieve anxiety or depression symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people who experience trauma by teaching them how to interpret their emotions in a more positive way. Medication may also be prescribed by a physician if necessary.
If there’s one thing one should learn about the recovery process, is that self-care is crucial; taking care of yourself is essential for managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Self-care means doing things that make us happy every day—whether it’s going out on Saturday nights with friends after work or simply sitting down at home reading an old favorite book before bed each night—the point is to find some sort of personal pleasure in life again!
Trauma can happen suddenly, but it can be prevented by taking care of your overall mental health. If you are experiencing symptoms of trauma, talk to a professional as soon as possible. There are many types of professionals that can help with this—you might have to do some research to find one that works best for you. Your local Mental Health America chapter is another resource for finding a therapist near you and making an appointment if necessary.
If possible, try to avoid triggers that remind you of the event (for example: visiting the place where it happened). It may be helpful if friends, family members, or other loved ones surround themselves with positive influences and reminders of their own self-worth in order to lift their spirits during difficult times.
Everyone has a uniquely different nervous system. Therefore, one can be highly sensitive to traumatic events and relatively easily get sick of them [2]. Can you think that you are safe from PTSD when you are not? Anima shows you the answers to your questions and helps you to understand how to deal with them.
This app is designed to help you determine whether the event or situation you have experienced is potentially traumatic. You could have experienced any events that may have resulted in emotional distress and psychobiological activation of your stress response, especially if you are young or the event was unexpected.
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