Do you suffer from trauma and wonder why you do some of the things that you do? Do you feel like you are either inhibited from risk-taking, or completely given over to it? Do you feel like your decision-making is entirely out of habit or routine instead of the particular circumstances of the situation? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you are definitely having your choices affected by the trauma twist, so read on.
Decision-making and Risk-taking are So Challenging at This Time
There is so much stress in our everyday world now that it is almost unavoidable for us to have to make so many decisions so much of the time about all kinds of things. It can also seem like some days just getting out of the bed to start your day seems like an intimidating matter. It may also be the case that you take risks all the time, but wind up feeling bad about those and much of your decision-making. These can be the effects of trauma or PTSD.
Decision-making and Risk-Taking Issues are Problems for Many People
With the above-mentioned decisions that we are faced with on a day-to-day basis, such as just trying to decide what kind of cereal you’ll get at the grocery store, decision-making can be overwhelming at any given time. If you’re someone who suffers from trauma, it can become a potentially paralyzing experience. Even people who struggle with ADHD, who can be very good with making snap decisions on an impulse and are very much into risk-taking, can also suffer from trauma. Their remorse about their tendency to make impulsive decisions is almost the opposite problem. They’re both related to trauma at their root, however.
How to Cope With the Decision-making and Risk-taking Trauma Twist
Certainly for people who have trouble with decision-making, using tools such as a pros and cons list can be helpful for major decisions. But some people often have trouble making even the smallest decisions. Getting therapy help in such instances can be indispensable for being able to regain functionality in this manner. The same can be true for you if you tend to be impulsive and get into excessive risk-taking. Sometimes medications are needed, but being able to find a way to think about the potential consequences of a course of action can be important when impulsivity and excessive risk-taking are going on. One major coping tool can be to take an attitude of decisions as being wise or unwise instead of good/bad, right/wrong.
Why Decision-making and Risk-taking are Such Major Issues with Trauma
A big part of the problem is that when people experience trauma and PTSD, the front of their brain gets cut off from them being able to process information and make decisions effectively. The parts of the brain that are closer to the brain stem, such as the amygdala can become over activated with trauma, and this puts people in more of a fight, flight, or freeze mode. These tend to be very unhealthy for people, and finding ways to calm these parts of the brain down can be very important. One of the best things people can do in this regard is to use deep breathing, which also is known as vagal breathing. Taking deep breaths and releasing them with a slow, long exhale using your diaphragm is one of the best ways to calm down your nervous system and to be able to improve decision-making, as well as to help address potential impulsivity.
What If Decision-making and Risk-taking Continue to be Big Problems For You?
As I mentioned above, contacting a mental health professional to help assess you for trauma, PTSD, or ADHD can be very important for knowing where the problem lies. I’ve been helping my clients recover from trauma from my entire social work career, and even though I don’t specialize in ADHD, a number of my clients suffer from this and do improve with appropriate trauma therapy. Sometimes medications do need to come into play to help people to become more functional, but the point is to regain functionality instead of continuing to repeat the same unhealthy and self-destructive patterns. I use several forms of trauma therapy to help my clients, including EMDR, and Image Transformation Therapy (ImTT) to help them in recovering with my therapy. Feel free to call the number at the top of the page, or fill out an inquiry form below, and I will get back to you within 24 hours to schedule a free 20 minute phone consult so you can get a better idea about whether I can help you with your situation.. You deserve to have a rich, fulfilling life that is not hindered by difficulties with decision-making and taking healthy risks instead of unhealthy ones.
Visit our page on trauma therapy to find out how Scott can help you with decision-making and risk-taking problems.
About the author: Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland. He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin, Texas. He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.