About Trauma
By definition, trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.
The kinds of experiences that can be deemed traumatic are vast and differ from divorce, illness, natural disasters, abuse, war, torture…the list goes on and on.
Because the markers of trauma are widespread, millions of people around the world have experienced some form of trauma, making it one of the biggest epidemics to date.
HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?
Because we believe that addiction and mental illness are simply side effects of trauma, we have an understanding of just how large a problem unresolved trauma is in Canada. To give you some perspective, here are some numbers:
In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness or addiction problem. (Mental Health Commission of Canada)
"Not everyone to experience a traumatic event gets PTSD. Lots of people don’t. Risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing PTSD include: exposure to childhood trauma, presence of other mental health problems like anxiety or depression, lack of a good support network and having biological relatives with mental health problems." — CBC via National Centre for PTSD
Canada has the highest prevalence of PTSD out of 24 countries studied by the National Centre for PTSD; 9.2 per cent of Canadians will suffer from PTSD in their lifetimes.
WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT?
The economic burden of mental illness in Canada is estimated at $51 billion per year. This includes healthcare costs, lost productivity and reductions in quality of life. (Mental Health Commission of Canada)
In any given week, at least 500,000 employed Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems. (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO?
We hope to move all trauma sufferers from post-traumatic stress, to post-traumatic growth.
"The story isn't me anymore, it's just a story. It no longer defines me. I think of post-traumatic stress as post-traumatic growth." — Theo Fleury from 'Conversations with a Rattlesnake'
What is Trauma?
By definition, trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. The kinds of experiences that can be deemed traumatic are vast and differ from divorce, illness, natural disasters, abuse, war, torture…the list goes on and on.
Because the markers of trauma are widespread, millions of people around the world have experienced some form of trauma, making it one of the biggest epidemics to date.
What is PTSD?
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a condition that occurs following the experience of trauma, whether first-hand or by witnessing it. Those who have experienced trauma and have stress reactions to it, can develop PTSD.
PTSD is categorized as a mental illness, and symptoms can range from flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, detachment, or can manifest itself in other forms of self-harm or mental illness such as depression or addiction.
Trauma Therapy
If PTSD or trauma symptoms are present in someone for a month or more, talk therapy is a recommended and effective (in many cases) for healing and coping with trauma.
In seeking a therapist to work with, there are many amazing professionals in Canada. Even better, many therapists are specialized in specific areas of trauma as well, so you can really find the person who can best help you with your situation and healing.