Okay, this is such a big big open question.
I'm always a bit embarrased to be up front and say to friends that I went to therapy not for depression, not for anxiety, not for an eating disorder but for trauma and self harm. That yes, while trauma resulted in depressive and anxious symptoms which I thought were the problem. But after a few sessions I learned that my hunch was right all along, the main reason I was the way I was was because of the way I was treated as a child. I was misinformed because there is so much awareness for spotting the signs of depression, but very very little for trauma - and you really have to look for it.
I always feel dramatic about saying traumatised. Maybe it's because I have improved? Maybe it's because I was never officially diagnosed. My well-qualified therapist said with no reservations that I am traumatised and the treatment we've done has been a huge amount of trauma work. He has refused to give me a definitive diagnosis because he felt it wasn't the right thing for me, it would be another thing to add to my "list of things that are wrong with me".
So I mean, I am a trauma person. No, I never exactly was attacked by a pack of savage elephants or fought in Vietnam. But yeah, I feel it is not common but not uncommon. If they say mental illness affects 1 in 4; what would you say it is for trauma? (and to the point that it effects or has at some stage affected their day to day living)
I'm always a bit embarrased to be up front and say to friends that I went to therapy not for depression, not for anxiety, not for an eating disorder but for trauma and self harm. That yes, while trauma resulted in depressive and anxious symptoms which I thought were the problem. But after a few sessions I learned that my hunch was right all along, the main reason I was the way I was was because of the way I was treated as a child. I was misinformed because there is so much awareness for spotting the signs of depression, but very very little for trauma - and you really have to look for it.
I always feel dramatic about saying traumatised. Maybe it's because I have improved? Maybe it's because I was never officially diagnosed. My well-qualified therapist said with no reservations that I am traumatised and the treatment we've done has been a huge amount of trauma work. He has refused to give me a definitive diagnosis because he felt it wasn't the right thing for me, it would be another thing to add to my "list of things that are wrong with me".
So I mean, I am a trauma person. No, I never exactly was attacked by a pack of savage elephants or fought in Vietnam. But yeah, I feel it is not common but not uncommon. If they say mental illness affects 1 in 4; what would you say it is for trauma? (and to the point that it effects or has at some stage affected their day to day living)