I woke up with a migraine so flutter put some CBD cream on my neck and she messaged my neck a little bit. The migraine went away. But then my tummy was hurting from gas pains. I went potty and now my tummy feels much better. But now my lumbar is really ouchy. Flutter is going to put some CBD cream on my back in a few minutes. I took a Norco. I'm trying to rest before our crazy day begins.
Hi, my name is 3856. I'm here because I want to communicate more effectively with my spouse who has hearing loss. I also want to improve my skills coping with a chronic back pain problem.
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Anxiety is a common mental health condition that can stem from a variety of things. However, one of the reasons many people struggle so much with anxiety is due to the impact of underlying trauma — especially when that trauma goes unaddressed.
Traumatic events — no matter how long ago they occurred — can leave a mark on your mental well-being. Understanding the relationship between anxiety and underlying trauma can be the first step forward as you address the experiences you’ve been through.
It's important to note that while it's possible to cope with anxiety as you work through traumatic experiences, without actually addressing the trauma, the overall anxiety only tends to grow.
The Lasting Impact of Trauma
A traumatic experience might be a one-time thing, or it might be something more consistent and ongoing, like abuse or neglect, or relational experiences such as bullying or otherwise. Whatever the case may be, any kind of traumatic event can leave a lasting impact on your life, if not addressed.
Even if the trauma occurred when you were a child, you could still struggle with some of these effects as an adult without really realizing it -- at least at first. Some of these common lasting impacts include:
Feeling guilt or shame
Mood swings
Aches and pains in the body (headaches, back pain, digestive issues)
Trust issues
Flashbacks
Social withdrawal
Difficulty with intimacy
And others
It’s also not uncommon for people who have experienced trauma to deal with mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Anxiety, in particular, can make you feel like you’re in a constant state of fear or activation. Your mind and body may feel like they’re in “fight, flight, or freeze” mode, even when there is no present threat.
Coping With Triggers
One of the reasons anxiety can be so problematic when you’re dealing with underlying trauma is that you may likely experience underlying triggers. A trigger could be a person, place, thing, situation, tone, scent, or even a random memory or flashback that pops up.
These trauma triggers can make you feel like you’re right back in a dangerous situation. You may consciously be aware you're not in a dangerous situation, but your body is responding as if you are. They send signals to your brain that make you think you’re in danger, even when you’re not. Because anxiety often thrives on a fear of the unknown, it makes sense that these triggers would cause your thoughts or body experiences to become overstimulating and overwhelming.
Acknowledging Your Trauma
Recognizing your triggers can be a positive step forward. Even simply starting to pay attention to why certain things make you so anxious. For example, are you dealing with flashbacks or memories you don’t fully understand?
Some people try to avoid thinking about the trauma they’ve experienced. Others repress it so much that they consciously forget all about it. However, no matter how deeply it's pushed down (and often even more so because it's pushed so deep), one can still have symptoms years later.
Working with a therapist is often the best way to address underlying trauma. The process can help clear away the weeds while allowing you to process the experiences you've been through in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment.
Managing Anxiety
While addressing underlying trauma is a good way to better understand and reduce your anxiety, being able to cope with your symptoms can also make you feel more in control and make life more enjoyable while in the process.
Emotional regulation and mindfulness can be helpful as you address the deeper issues. As mentioned earlier, however, it's important to keep in mind that unaddressed and unprocessed trauma and anxiety has a way of building and growing. This can lead to the symptoms eventually pushing through the coping skills. Think of it as the coping skills are the bandaids and the deeper work cleans the wound. If you're not doing the work of cleaning the wound, eventually the bandaid won't do much.
If you’re concerned that you might be carrying underlying trauma, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. The anxiety that often stems from trauma doesn’t have to dictate your life.
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I took 2 antidiarrheal pills 2 hours before I left and then another one when I got to Memphis. I'm gonna be taking 2 every morning while I'm away from home. I thought I'd get super sick at the airport from anxiety but the meds definitely helped.
My back feels much better now. I laid down for 2 hours after taking a Norco. I'm trying to go to sleep but I'm just so happy to be here. I'm such a lucky puppy to have such amazing friends and the best girlfriend ever.
2 reactions #RheumatoidArthritis #BackPain #ChronicPain #InterstitialCystitis
I’m honestly not sure what I have im dealing with a lot of health issues and have been for years but never paid much attention to it. But I remember always putting icy hot, bandages and taking pain relievers, and then forgot about it. And now that I’m on disability leave and haven’t been working I notice my body is still in pain even when I do minimal exercise. It tires me out so much, and I have appointments coming up with a podiatrist, rheumatic and a urogynecologist. I’ve healed from my bladder infection but I’m still struggling to urinate. And I keep going in circles about what I could possibly have and I just can’t figure it out. I’m really looking forward to going to my doctors appointments next week. I’m tired of being in pain. :(
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My hips are shooting pain down my legs and my back feels like I got kicked. And my tummy has really sharp stabbing pain in the left side. My caregiver put some CBD cream on my hips and back a few minutes ago so hopefully it helps. I haven't had a BM since Saturday.
What's your favorite kind of cookies? I think I prefer peanut butter cookies.
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My tummy is grumbling and I'm very hungry but my back hurts so much to stand up. And my caregiver is back to sleep. I am craving fish sticks and cucumber slices with ranch dressing. I'm hoping the Norco kicks in soon so I can make lunch. I've been super hungry lately and I don't know why.
I got to chat with my girlfriend for a few minutes. That was nice. My neck and back really hurt. My caregiver is asleep so I gotta wait for meds. I'm gonna take half of a Norco and have her put some CBD cream on my neck and back. I still don't have a migraine which is good.
Last night my caregiver went through my totes looking for stuff. She found some things I forgot about. She found all 4 of my squeaky pickles, vape juice, and bone shaped cookie cutters!
I went downstairs to get my mail cuz I got notification that my coils got delivered. They took 3 weeks to get here. When I got back to my apartment my caregiver put some CBD cream on my neck and back. I'm starting to feel better. I'm gonna take an Excedrin. I've got my appointment in just over an hour. I'm hoping it goes well.
Pain was at 6 when I woke up at 8am and now it's 7. I haven't taken any meds yet. I'm hungry but I don't know what I want to eat. I've got cheesy refried beans, Dino nuggies, or salad but I don't have any cucumber. I've got half of a bag of salad greens that I need to eat today. Hmm. Last night I buttered a tortilla and covered it with slices of cheese and microwaved it to melt the cheese. Then I added Dino nuggies and ranch dressing. It was Dino-mite .
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