Trauma is an experience that can profoundly impact your life, especially when living abroad. When a person undergoes a traumatic event, they often try to avoid the emotions associated with it, thus experiencing the trauma. If you find yourself experiencing intense distress, flashbacks, fear and anxiety, disturbing thoughts, and avoiding situations or people linked to the traumatic event, it’s essential to seek professional help from a psychotherapist and start the journey to recovery.
What is Trauma?
Trauma can affect those who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, especially when you are away from home in an unfamiliar environment. Such events can be emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening, impacting your emotional, mental, physical, social, and overall wellbeing.
Expats and internationals with trauma often face intense distress, disturbing thoughts, and emotions related to their experience, which can last long after the traumatic event. They may relive the event through flashbacks and memories, experiencing deep sadness, anger, fear, and a sense of detachment from others. They might avoid situations or people that remind them of the trauma and have strong negative reactions to triggers such as loud noises or unexpected physical contact