Fear& Anxiety

Changes to view of the world

Reminders of the trauma out of the blue, changes to view of the world and safety in it.  Continually re-experiencing trauma.  Feeling physically alert.  Particular triggers may remind you, causing you to respond with fear.  Some triggers obvious and some not.

Guilt & Shame 

Feelings about what you did or didn't do

Feeling you should have or could have done more or less, that you are weak, inadequate or to blame

Self Image

Negative thoughts, previously safe & rewarding now dangerous

Feel it is hard not to trust anyone due to constant reminders of the past.  Physical aspects of the trauma give similar meaning.

Physical Arousal

Physical results of fight or flight

Feeling jittery, agitated, over alert, trembling, trouble sleeping, snappy.  As a result of fear we are aroused to fight or flight, body prepared to run or freeze. Constant alert, prepared for instant action which you no longer need.  Forces you to realise danger in world and prepares you to deal with it.  Your body does not realise that trauma is passed.  Reacts as if under threat and might need to react.

Feeling Low

Feeling life a struggle to live

Feelings of sadness, down, depression.  Frequently tearful and feelings of self harm or suicide

Loss of Control

Powerless to trauma

The threat of the trauma to yourself and those around you leaves you feeling a sense of powerlessness 

Anger

Taking personal responsibility

Feeling personally responsible, easy to loose temper, high arousal, poor sleep and feeling that nobody understands.  Often triggered by subtle reminders

Re experiencing

Flashbacks, nightmares, emotional thoughts

Flashbacks laid down in memory, stored as raw and unfinished form and not fully processed and closed as other memories have been.  Appear in the here and now.

Avoidance

Avoiding feelings triggering a reminder

Protection from things that feel dangerous and feelings which are overwhelming.  Desire to avoid may be so intense that you forget aspects.  Blanking out, switching off, emotional numbness.  This reduces distress in the short term, but long term does not as difficult to avoid thoughts and feelings effectively.  They return more frequent and persistent.  Feelings overwhelm

Concentration

Constantly re-living trauma 

Feeling going crazy, intrusive and depressive thoughts.  Constantly re living.  Less mental space means difficulty concentrating on other things.