Hidden Symptoms of Trauma

Lindsay Knake

| 3 min read

Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross B...

Trauma may cause individuals to experience flashbacks and hypervigilance, but other symptoms are less obvious.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in a small percentage of people who experienced a dangerous or scary event. Most people who experience the events will recover without long-term effects, even if the memory of the event remains uncomfortable. But for about six of every 100 people, the experience will lead to PTSD, according to the National Center for PTSD.
Research shows PTSD rewires the brain, leading it to interpret unthreatening events as threatening and causing decision making to be more difficult. You are unable to process the experiences to integrate them into your memory. Living in a long-term state of fight, flight, or freeze takes a toll. Common symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:
  • Flashbacks
  • Hypervigilance
  • Feeling isolated from family and friends
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Difficulty regulating emotions
Here are some of the hidden symptoms of trauma:

Loss of trust

Untreated trauma makes the world feel like a more dangerous and unpredictable place. The amygdala is the part of our brain that scans the world for threats. After a traumatic experience, the amygdala can become overactive and detect threats everywhere. It can become difficult to know what is a real threat and what isn’t, according to Harvard University.

Powerlessness

Trauma can erode your sense of agency and create a feeling of powerlessness, according to a study. The overwhelming nature of hypervigilance and feelings of danger in the world can make it difficult to function.

Physical symptoms

A study found people with PTSD reported higher levels of pain than those without the disorder. The impact of PTSD on your body includes headaches, muscle tension, joint pain, increased blood pressure, and fatigue, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

Gastrointestinal issues

PTSD is associated with a higher likelihood of digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a study. Although the connection is not entirely understood, but increased stress can slow the digestive process and increase sensitivity.

Signs of trauma in children

Children with PTSD can have trouble sleeping, nightmares, and angry outbursts, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
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