How Long Does Trauma Take to Heal?

Healing from trauma is a deeply personal experience. When someone seeks help for treating trauma, there is often an expectation that healing happens quickly, but this isn’t always the case. 

The duration of trauma recovery depends on multiple factors, including whether or not a person has access to the right treatment and support from those closest to them. At the Massachusetts Center for Addiction, we acknowledge that every trauma experience is different, and requires an individualized approach to treatment. 

Factors That Influence Trauma Recovery

Several factors can impact the length and effectiveness of trauma recovery. Understanding these influences can help tailor treatment approaches to each individual’s unique experiences and needs.

Type of Trauma

The type of trauma is one of the most significant factors in how long recovery takes. Some traumatic experiences are more complex than others. This doesn’t mean that one type of trauma is worse or worthy of treatment than another. However, the brain processes traumatic experiences in varying ways. 

A single, acute trauma experience may be easier for the brain to process. For example, being involved in a serious car accident is a traumatic experience that may lead to feelings of loss of control, fear of driving, and isolation in an attempt to not risk another accident. This type of trauma is less complex and recovery through treatment may happen on a shorter timeline compared to other types of trauma. 

On the other end of the spectrum is complex trauma. Someone who was abused as a child, grew up with parents who had substance abuse issues, and then was left to deal with the aftermath of their parents’ passing, is an example of complex trauma. 

In this case, the trauma is chronic and has been an influence on the person’s life for many years. There are numerous components to the trauma, and they each need to be addressed during therapy. Complex trauma requires a nuanced approach to treatment and generally requires a longer duration of therapy. 

Personal Circumstances

Another factor in the duration of trauma healing is an individual’s personal circumstances. Do they have a support network they can trust and talk to about their experiences? When deciding on a treatment path, we would also look at a person’s mental health history and whether substance use has been a factor. These are just a few examples of circumstances that factor into treatment duration. 

Timing 

Timing is important when healing from trauma. In an ideal world, early intervention would be accessible to every trauma survivor. The sooner treatment begins after a traumatic event, the faster recovery tends to be. With early intervention, thoughts and behaviors surrounding the traumatic event are less entrenched in daily life, and less time has passed to develop unhealthy coping strategies. 

However, many people don’t have the benefit of early intervention. Healing from trauma is possible at any stage. However, when trauma treatment is delayed, healing generally takes longer. 

What Is a Typical Trauma Recovery Timeline?

While the amount of time it takes to heal from trauma varies, there is a more predictable path that healing takes. This includes the immediate phase following trauma, then the stages of short-term and long-term recovery. 

During the initial stage, the aftermath of trauma may leave a person feeling confused and in a state of shock or denial. Depending on the type of trauma, this stage may last a few days to several weeks or longer. During this stage, it’s common to experience very intense emotions, as well as a physical response to the trauma. 

Short-term recovery is the next stage. During this time, without treatment, there may be intense feelings of anxiety, along with a strong desire to be hypervigilant. It’s also common to begin experiencing trauma flashbacks during this time. 

If treatment hasn’t been sought during the initial stage, it’s encouraged to seek trauma recovery therapy now. By beginning therapy at this stage, therapeutic approaches, such as CBT or EMDR, can assist in managing symptoms while laying the foundation for long-term recovery. 

The final stage is long-term recovery which is the goal of trauma-focused therapy. Treatment at this stage focuses on deeper emotional healing and restructuring thoughts and behaviors related to trauma. Long-term trauma recovery involves rebuilding trust, reestablishing a sense of normalcy in one’s life, and working through the many complex emotions involved in trauma. 

What to Expect When Recovering from Trauma

When recovering from trauma, it’s important to grant yourself patience and self-compassion. Trauma is a condition that can’t be easily wiped away. True healing requires each person to confront difficult emotions and allow themselves to be uncomfortable and vulnerable at the same time. 

During trauma treatment, you may experience ongoing symptoms during the early stages. This might include anxiety, depression, unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, and hypervigilance. Be gentle with yourself, as healing takes time. It’s also important to discuss your symptoms with your mental health therapist. The more you share, the more trust you’re willing to build, the better able they are to help you. 

As trauma treatment and recovery progress, you begin to view traumatic events from a different perspective. Your emotional and physical responses change and become less intense. The tightness of the grip trauma has on your life begins to loosen. 

Eventually, you become capable of coping with trauma triggers and controlling your own thoughts and behaviors, so that they have less of an impact on your life. 

Signs of Healing from Trauma

How do you know treatment for trauma is working? You’ll notice both big and small signs along the way that you’re making progress toward healing from the traumatic experiences in your past. 

• Feeling safe and stabilized 
• Feeling a deeper sense of connection with your own body
• Improvements in mental and physical health 
• A desire to become less isolated 
• Your perspective surrounding the traumatic event and its threat to your future self has changed 
• Developing a sense that the past and present are connected, yet separate and distinct 
• No longer reliving the trauma in your mind, imagining a different outcome 
• No longer experiencing trauma flashbacks 
• A reduction in destructive self-soothing or self-medicating behaviors 
• A renewed sense of self-confidence or self-acceptance 
• An interest in developing new relationships 
• Reduced fear surrounding trauma triggers 

Therapy Options for Trauma

The most effective path toward healing from trauma is by seeking help from a qualified mental health treatment provider who specializes in trauma therapy. There are multiple types of treatment options available. And, because trauma is a deeply personal experience, each approach to treatment needs to be individualized and tailored to the person’s unique experiences with trauma. 

Individual Therapy: These are personalized therapy options, typically in the form of psychotherapy. A couple of the most common, evidence-based therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). 

Group Therapy: This approach to trauma healing offers the opportunity to share your experience and learn from others who have gone through similar traumatic experiences. Group therapy can reduce feelings of isolation and foster connections with a supportive community. 

Complementary Therapies: Various therapies, such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, and art therapy, complement traditional therapies by promoting relaxation and self-expression. 

Learn More About Trauma Therapy at the Massachusetts Center for Addiction 

The Massachusetts Center for Addiction provides a comprehensive range of trauma therapy options that are tailored to individual needs. Whether you’ve recently experienced trauma or have decided now is the time to begin recovering from a lifetime of living with the effects of trauma, we are here to help. 

Our compassionate team of mental health professionals is experienced in trauma treatment, and help is a single phone call away. Contact the Massachusetts Center for Addiction today at 844-486-0671.