War, natural disasters, the loss of a loved one, domestic abuse, financial destitution, a cancer diagnosis, tragic events from childhood: these and so many more situations can cause the “bottom to fall out” of our lives. They can also leave us with medically-diagnosable psychological disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
But can emotional traumas, if left unresolved, actually lead to cancer? The answer, according to the latest research on stress, the emotions, and cancer… is an unequivocal Yes!
The Long-Term Effects of Emotional Trauma
According to the American Psychological Association, trauma is “the emotional response someone has to an extremely negative event.” In-the-moment responses to such events (often called “shock”), such as racing pulse, dizziness, confusion, numbness, disorientation, and distraction, are a normal part of our system’s “fight or flight” response.
Problems arise, however, when the effect of such events are so severe that they linger with us long after the fact.
The following are signs that an emotional trauma may still be effecting you