Unresolved Trauma: Signs, Causes, & Treatment

What Is Unresolved Trauma?

Unresolved traumas are experiences survivors have not addressed through self-help strategies or therapy. Some may respond to trauma immediately, while others may not notice symptoms until later in life due to repression or forgotten memories. However, the symptoms affect their lives as intensity or severity grows without adequate processing.

Unresolved trauma can occur as dismissive or preoccupying trauma. The first serves as a way to protect individuals from any negative emotions associated with the event. The latter involves being constantly on guard and alert to potential threats similar to those experienced during the trauma.¹

Common Causes of Unresolved Childhood Trauma

Unresolved trauma often stems from traumatic or adverse childhood experiences, such as neglect, abuse, or witnessing/experiencing violence. Children can also experience trauma if their parents/caregivers fail to meet their needs for protection or comfort when distressed. Chronic exposure to such events interrupts healthy attachment development, which also plays a role in unresolved trauma.¹

Common causes of unresolved trauma include:

• Traumatic events in childhood
• Societal and systemic traumas (i.e., discrimination, war, or generational trauma)
• Experiencing life-threatening situations
• Witnessing death
• History of sexual trauma (i.e., sexual abuse, assault, etc.)
• Separation from families and/or culture
• Witnessing or experiencing Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence

Signs of Unresolved Childhood Trauma in Adults

Symptoms of unresolved childhood trauma can vary by individual, as everyone responds to distress differently. However, research suggests confusion regarding self-identity, dissociation, and relationship problems in adulthood are common for those with unhealed traumas.² Other signs include substance use, symptoms of depression, or suicidal ideation.³ Leaving these issues untreated can contribute to additional mental health complications.

Common signs of unresolved trauma include:

• Nightmares associated with the trauma
• Intrusive thoughts about the traumatic experience
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Avoidance behaviors
• Substance misuse
• Emotional numbness
• Hypervigilance
• Dissociative PTSD
• Trust issues
• PTSD flashbacks
• Self-harm
• Interpersonal distress
• Low self-esteem
• Control issues
• Anger outbursts
• Difficulty managing and regulating emotions

How Unresolved Trauma Affects Daily Life

Unresolved trauma can impact various aspects of life, including overall functioning, relationships, and work performance. Those with unresolved trauma are often hypersensitive to perceived threats, sometimes leading to interpersonal disputes and trust issues with intimate partners, friends, or family members.

Emotional numbness is another symptom of unresolved trauma that can leave survivors feeling detached from or indifferent to themselves and the world. Trauma can also disrupt cognitive functioning, meaning individuals may struggle to stay focused or motivated. These challenges can lead to substantial work or academic issues, potentially limiting opportunities for success and personal development.

Treatment Options for Unresolved Trauma

Treating unresolved trauma is essential. Unaddressed symptoms often increase in severity or frequency, thus impacting happiness, stability, and overall well-being. In most cases, therapy can be pivotal in healing from trauma, and some individuals may also benefit from medications to treat co-occurring mental health conditions.

Trauma Therapy Options

Trauma-informed therapies emphasize a deeper exploration of trauma so survivors can “release” these experiences from their bodies. These methods implement person-centered guidelines that focus on viewing oneself as a survivor rather than a victim.

Trauma therapies for unresolved trauma may include:

• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT): TF-CBT can help children and their parents work together to address the effects of trauma.
• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT): CBT for PTSD helps individuals understand and challenge negative thought patterns that stem from the traumatic experience, thus decreasing symptoms and improving quality of life.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT for PTSD uses skills such as mindfulness and distress tolerance to decrease symptoms of PTSD.

Body-Centered Therapies

Research shows engaging in body-centered therapies can help reduce symptoms of unresolved trauma in both children and adults. These methods focus on the body-mind link when addressing trauma.

Body-centered therapies for unresolved trauma may include:

• Somatic therapy: Somatic therapy uses natural bodily processes as the main healing form to address unresolved trauma.
• Dance and movement therapy: Dance and movement therapy helps improve interoception in trauma survivors.⁴ This method usually focuses on establishing safety, regulating hyperarousal, and fostering self-awareness.
• Trauma release exercises (TRE): Trauma release exercises trigger muscle tremors and shaking to help the body release pent-up trauma and stress.

Medication

Medications like antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines, and mood stabilizers can potentially decrease or alleviate symptoms related to unresolved trauma. However, medication alone is not often sufficient to process and treat unresolved trauma. A typical treatment plan focuses on therapy with supplemental pharmaceutical help.

How to Cope With Unresolved Trauma

Coping mechanisms are essential when addressing unresolved trauma. These strategies can help decrease the severity or intensity of symptoms. Be open and willing to try different methods until you find what works for your unique needs.

Coping strategies for unresolved trauma include:

• Prioritize self-care: Self-care includes activities that help you recharge, unwind, relax, or feel better about yourself. Overcoming unresolved trauma becomes easier when you can function at your best.
• Journaling: Journaling about trauma can help individuals release negative thoughts and emotions from their bodies.
• Practice grounding exercises: Grounding exercises promote self-regulation and calmness by decreasing stress levels. These techniques can be valuable when overwhelmed by trauma triggers or anxiety.
• Try mindfulness: Mindfulness teaches individuals to be fully present in the moment, helping them become more aware of their emotions, thoughts, physical body, and surroundings.

Finding Support for Unresolved Trauma

Seeking professional help for unresolved trauma can be anxiety-provoking. However, mental health professionals can guide you through processing trauma and provide the support and tools needed to cope. You can use an online therapist directory to find the right therapist. You can also explore online psychiatry options if you are interested in medication.