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Hyper-arousal: increased heart rate, rapid or difficulty breathing, cold sweats, tingling, muscular tension.
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Constriction: Constriction in body and narrowing of perceptions.
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Disassociation or Denial
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Feelings of helplessness, immobility and freezing
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Hyper vigilance
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Intrusive imagery or flashbacks
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Extreme sensitivity to light and sound
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Hyperactivity
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Exaggerated emotional and startle responses
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Nightmares and night terrors
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Abrupt mood swings (rage reactions or temper tantrums, frequent anger or crying)
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Shame and lack of self-worth
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Reduced ability to deal with stress
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Difficulty sleeping
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Panic attacks, anxiety and phobias
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Mental blankness or spaced out feelings
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Avoidance behavior (avoiding places, moments, activities, memories or people)
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Attraction to dangerous situations
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Addictive behaviors (overeating, drinking, smoking, drugs
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Exaggerated or diminished sexual activity
When people are behaving in apparently self-destructive ways, it’s time to stop asking what’s wrong with them, and time to start asking what happened to them.
Dr. Robert Anda and Dr. Vincent Felitti-
Amnesia or forgetfulness
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Inability to love, nurture or bond with other individuals
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Fear of dying or having a shortened life
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Self mutilation (severe abuse, self-inflicted cutting, etc.)
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Loss of sustaining beliefs (spiritual, religious, interpersonal)
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Excessive shyness
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Diminished emotional responses
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Inability to make commitments
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Chronic Fatigue or very low physical energy
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Immune system problems
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Psychosomatic illnesses particularly headaches, migraines, neck and back problems
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Chronic pain
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Asthma
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Skin disorders
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Digestive problems
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Depression and feelings of impending doom
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Feelings of detachment, alienation and isolation (living dead syndrome)
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Reduced ability to formulate plans
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Re-enactment of the trauma
From Peter Levine’s “Healing Trauma.”