Trauma.
Six letters.
Two syllables.
A mixture of emotions: unfiltered confusion, anxiety, and fear – tightly wound into a simple word.
Here at Eating Disorder Solutions, we understand that trauma feels and appears differently in every case. Trauma doesn’t have one specific emotion; it can be a plethora of different types that a person has repeatedly experienced because of months, years, or a single detrimental moment of mistreatment impacting their mental or physical well-being.
We’ve all heard the proverbial expression, “out of sight, out of mind.” The term is meant to bring comfort to someone who may be struggling with a specific situation that has created an onset of negative emotions and reactions in their daily lives. However, just like any other conflict in your life – it’s always easier said than done to keep something “out of mind,” especially when trauma can become ingrained in your brain. This is because these areas of our brains become implicated with stress, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
Unfortunately, trauma doesn’t naturally allow room for an “out of mind” mindset, and that’s where we come in.
Trauma Comes in A Variety of Forms
A question frequently arises regarding mental illness: Where did it come from? How did this begin? Why is it happening?
The first step in countering those questions is comprehending what type of trauma might have occurred in our clients’ lifetimes. However, pinpointing exactly how and why an eating disorder originated isn’t as simple as it may seem, as eating disorders and other mental illnesses can stem from an interaction of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors.
Just like many mental health conditions, trauma can appear dormant in some clients until they are triggered or has the potential to keep them in a constant state of angst and worry. Many stereotypes and stigmas revolving around eating disorders are known as “unseen faces,” which is another reason why diagnosing trauma is essential when it comes to treating an eating disorder. Not only does the team at Eating Disorder Solutions strive to dismantle the stigmas attached to mental illness, but we also dive deep into the trenches of trauma and its grip on specific human behavior when it comes to therapy and treatment.
We recognize that many clients have traumatic histories that need to be met with empathy and understanding. No type of trauma is too little or too much – every traumatic situation should be taken seriously, diagnosed, and treated with the kind of care that each one of our clients deserves.
What is Trauma-Informed Treatment?
Trauma-informed care is a critical aspect of diagnosing eating disorders and other mental illnesses. At Eating Disorder Solutions, our empathetic and compassionate team members diligently take the time to understand our clients’ trauma to discern the most effective treatment and long-term recovery plan.
Trauma-informed treatment is an approach based on knowledge of the impact of trauma aimed at ensuring effective care. To recover from a specific mental illness, we must first understand if there is any underlying trauma that potentially triggered the disorder. Trauma-informed care is a compassionate form of treatment and therapy that focuses on each client’s mind, body, and soul. This type of treatment seeks to:
- Realize the widespread impact of trauma
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma
- Personalize clients’ treatment using knowledge of their trauma
- Actively avoid re-traumatization
This treatment focuses on essential questions such as, “what happened to you?” rather than the stigmatic question of “what’s wrong with you?” To provide adequate healthcare services with a healing orientation and a compassionate heart, clinicians must have a complete understanding of a client’s life situation.
Benefits of Trauma-Informed Treatment
With the goal of recovery constantly in mind, our clinicians go above and beyond when understanding trauma and related experiences, triggers, and symptoms. As a result, we can connect our clients’ trauma and their eating disorder, allowing our team members to collaboratively create a treatment plan tailored to each client’s needs.
Trauma-informed care allows clients to effectively engage in their recovery, develop a trusting relationship with their provider, and improve long-term health outcomes. At Eating Disorder Solutions, we follow protocols that align with each form of treatment. When working with trauma-informed treatment, you can expect:
- Safety
- Trustworthiness and Transparency
- Empowerment
- Improved trauma-related symptoms
- Improvement of self-worth and self-esteem
- Healthier coping mechanisms
- Overcoming addictions
Adopting trauma-informed practices not only helps clinicians provide effective eating disorder treatment, but it also helps the client understand their trauma at a deeper level. This allows our them to safely work through their trauma and understand why their eating disorder may have started, further aiding them in their recovery and giving them a sense of empowerment over their mental health.
Our number one priority is our clients’ best interest and recovery. We dedicate our top-tier staff to providing the best possible eating disorder treatment and support to each client in the safety net of Eating Disorder Solutions.
If you or a loved one is showing possible signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, don’t struggle alone. There is help, and we are here. Contact us for more information or speak with a knowledgeable eating disorder specialist by giving us a call at 855-808-4213.
