When a person goes through a highly stressful situation, trauma may develop. If it has not been processed and managed properly, from a psychological point of view, it becomes an unresolved trauma, with all the consequences that this implies. One of them has to do with the social component, since trauma affects personal relationships. This often happens in the case of people who are not aware of the impact that this circumstance has on their daily lives. Sometimes, because they live disconnected from their feelings; others, because of downplaying them.
Unresolved trauma influences people’s ability to choose emotionally healthy individuals, and can also cause a damaged bond with someone. Psychologist Anie Tanasugarn identifies four specific consequences that arise from unresolved trauma. These usually respond to a series of common patterns, although they may vary depending on each person and each case.
One of the most frequent consequences due to an unresolved trauma is overthinking, which translates into obsessive thoughts, which generate anxiety, anguish and frustration in those who suffer from them. These people are obsessed with the past or the future. In the first case, certain patients may end up developing depression. While, in the second, the most common is a diagnosis of anxiety. The psychologist warns of the importance of learning skills that help face these thoughts in an adaptive way.
Another way to identify a person with unresolved trauma is to pay attention to their attitude, specifically whether they are constantly asking for forgiveness for anything. Specialist Anie Tanasugarn affirms that this is common in those who have suffered cases of abuse or harassment in their childhood. Her protective instinct, in order to avoid conflict, is to apologize. However, it is a pattern that we must learn to control and stop.
One more consequence is that of opening up too much to another person, in order to accelerate the development of a bond. This can lead to a false feeling of intimacy or mistake it for an authentic connection. The reasons may also have to do with the opposite, that is, with the desire to protect oneself and keep certain people away.
An unprocessed trauma triggers stress, anxiety and a whole series of intense emotions. These can be difficult to manage, causing the person to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. And this, in turn, degenerates into an emotional imbalance that causes outbursts and self-control difficulties.
