Understanding Trauma and Anxiety: A Guide for Choosing the Right Therapist

Exploring definitions, differences, and how therapy can help you heal

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An illustration showing trauma begins in the body and emotions and affects the thoughts — Anxiety exists in the head and affects the body and emotions.
All illustrations created by the author

Anxiety is the body's response to a perceived threat and part of the inbuilt and natural fight, flight and freeze response.

Trauma is the result of experiencing or witnessing something which is a threat physically or emotionally. The fight or flight responses persist even when no threat exists.

In this article, I will delve deeper into the differences and the connection between anxiety and trauma, helping you make informed decisions on your path to healing and well-being.

It’s essential to understand that not all anxiety is caused by trauma, and it would be overly simplistic to assume that anxiety is always a direct response to trauma.

We will explore therapeutic approaches for anxiety that can be helpful for trauma sufferers, although these approaches focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing the underlying trauma.

Finally, I will highlight the distinctions between long-term trauma treatment and addressing anxiety that may not be trauma-related, ensuring you have the knowledge to seek the appropriate support.

What is Anxiety?

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John Walter 📣Therapy and creativity
John Walter 📣Therapy and creativity

Written by John Walter 📣Therapy and creativity

Counsellor, jazz musician, AI Art nerd, bereaved father. Writing about my experience. Listening to yours. https://johnwaltercounsellor.com/

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