Trauma Treatment from Psychologists in Toronto

After experiencing a trauma, individuals may experience any of the following emotional and/or physical symptoms:

How is trauma treated?

Adjustment Disorder is a short-term condition in which someone has difficulty coping with, or adjusting to an identifiable source of stress (e.g. a major life change, loss, or event). These events can include the ending of a relationship, losing a job, the death of a loved one, developing a serious illness, being involved in an accident, being the victim of a crime, getting married, having a baby, retiring, or living through a natural disaster.

An individual with adjustment disorder typically develops emotional and/or behavioural symptoms within three months of the event and rarely lasts longer for six months after the event or situation ends. In an adjustment disorder, the reaction to a stressor is often greater than what the typical response to a situation. 

Symptoms in children and adolescents tend to be more behavioural (e.g. skipping school, fighting, acting out, etc.) 

Symptoms of adjustment disorder can include: 

• Feelings of hopelessness
• Sadness
• Frequent crying 
• Anxiety 
• Worry 
• Headaches or stomach aches
• Withdrawal from people or social activities
• Problems sleeping
• Increased use of substances
• Changes in appetite
• Feeling overwhelmed 
• Suicidal thoughts 
• Rebellious or impulsive actions 
• Symptoms impairing functioning in work, school, or relationships 



After experiencing a trauma, most people experience heightened anxiety, fear, or episodes of sadness. Most individuals will get better with time. However, in individuals suffering from PTSD these symptoms may last for months or years and may worsen over time. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after exposure to actual or threatened harm including death, injury, or sexual violence either experienced directly by an individual, witnessed by an individual, or learning about it happening to a close friend or family member. This includes repeated exposure to details of traumatic events (e.g police officers, firefighters, court judges). Individuals with PTSD often have intense and disturbing thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic event, long after the event has ended. 

Symptoms of PTSD can include: 

• Intrusive symptoms like recalling memories and dreams, flashbacks, or experiencing distress when reminded of the traumatic event 
• Avoidance of anything that reminds a person of the event
• A pattern of negative thinking and mood including negative beliefs about oneself, fear, anger , shame, loss of interest, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions 
• Difficulty remembering specific details of the traumatic event 
• Arousal and reactivity like irritability, reckless behaviours, hypervigilance, severe anxiety , difficulty concentrating, nightmares, and trouble sleeping 
• Depersonalization or derealization in some cases 

Symptoms of PTSD may start within one month of a traumatic event but sometimes symptoms do not appear until years later. Over time, PTSD can lead to changes in the brain and worsen without treatment. 

PTSD in Children 

PTSD in children can vary greatly from how it is experienced in adults. Symptoms in children may include: 

• Fear of being separated from a parent
• Losing previously acquired skills (e.g. toilet training) 
• Sleep problems and nightmares 
• New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the traumatic event 
• Acting out the traumatic event through play, stories, or drawings 
• Aches and pains with no apparent biological explanation 
• Irritability and aggression

Complex Trauma or Complex PTSD is a response to repeated and cumulative experiences of trauma. This traumatization can happen over the course of months or years and can include emotional abuse , physical abuse , and/or sexual abuse , as well as domestic violence , exposure to war, human trafficking, and more. While there are circumstances in which adults develop C-PTSD (e.g. first responders like nurses, police officers, paramedics, and firefighters), it is most often seen in individuals who experienced repeated trauma during their childhood. 

Symptoms of Complex PTSD include 

• Difficulty regulating affective impulses (e.g., anger, self-destructive behaviors): Complex trauma disrupts emotional regulation, causing intense, uncontrollable impulses like anger or self-harm as individuals struggle to manage overwhelming feelings stemming from traumatic experiences.
• Chronic sense of guilt, responsibility, difficulty with stress or intimacy: Survivors of complex trauma often feel undue guilt and responsibility, struggle with stress management, and find forming or maintaining intimate relationships challenging due to deep-seated emotional wounds.
• Hopelessness or despair: Persistent trauma can lead to chronic hopelessness and despair, making it hard for individuals to see a positive future or feel motivated to engage in daily activities.
• Physical symptoms like dizziness or nausea: Complex trauma can manifest physically, with symptoms like dizziness or nausea, as the body responds to psychological stress and unresolved traumatic memories.
• Reliving the traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks: Individuals with complex trauma frequently relive their traumatic experiences through distressing nightmares or vivid flashbacks, significantly impacting their mental health and daily functioning.
• Avoiding certain situations: To cope with reminders of their trauma, survivors may avoid specific places, people, or activities, which can limit their participation in everyday life and reinforce isolation.
• Changes in your beliefs and feelings about yourself or others: Complex trauma can alter core beliefs, leading to negative self-perceptions and distrust of others, affecting one's worldview and relationships profoundly.
• Hyperarousal: Chronic trauma induces a state of hyperarousal, where individuals are constantly on high alert, experiencing heightened anxiety, and overreacting to perceived threats.
• Dissociation, or feeling detached from your own body: To escape overwhelming trauma, individuals might dissociate, feeling disconnected from their body or reality, which can disrupt daily life and personal identity.
• Difficulty with relationships: Trauma survivors often struggle with relationships, finding it hard to trust or connect with others, which can result in isolation and difficulty in forming meaningful connections.