Trauma Symptoms

Many of the symptoms that we attribute to stress or "old age" are actually the result of trauma.  We may not connect the symptoms to trauma because they often don't appear until months or even years after the event. 

Common symptoms of trauma: 

• Headaches and other chronic pain

• Digestive problems

• Sleep disturbances

• Anxiety

• Phobias

• Depression

• Easily startled

• Hypervigilance and hyperactivity

• Avoidance behaviors

• Attraction to danger

• Panic attacks

• Forgetfulness

• Neck and back problems

• Frozen joints

• Asthma

• Abrupt mood swings

• Fear of dying

• Accident proneness

• Feeling frozen, immobile

• Problems connecting with others

• Excessive worrying

• Shakiness

• Hypersensitive to sound/light

• Feelings easily hurt

How symptoms may appear for children:

• Regression to earlier developmental periods, as in returning to bed wetting or thumb sucking

• Sudden changes in typical behavior

• Becoming withdrawn or fearful

• Sudden emotional outbursts

• Trouble sleeping, nightmares

• Hurting animals

• Avoiding certain situations, phobias

• Repetitive play involving aspects of an event

• Frequent “tummy aches”

• Links •

From Trauma to Health
 Serving Jefferson City and Columbia, MO
 JanHarcourt@traumatohealth.com     (573) 338-0104