What do you think of when you hear the word “trauma”? In medical speak, serious injury is often called “trauma,” such as head trauma from a car crash.

I’m in the kitchen, it’s 1:12pm, and I haven’t taken my morning meds yet. They’re the meds I need to reduce my anxiety and help me concentrate (for anxiety and ADD). Why do I do that?

You’re in the middle of enjoying something. A good movie, an out-of-this-world dessert. Suddenly, a switch flips in your brain and you feel horrible about your enjoyment. I don’t deserve this, you think. I’m bad and I don’t deserve these good things.

So, you’re the loved one of a man who’s experienced trauma. You’re probably here because you want to help him.

What do you think of when you imagine talking through your trauma? Probably a sparse therapist office, with maybe a shelf of books and a couch. Everything is still as you discuss what happened. Right?

What do you think when you hear the phrase “be a man”? What kinds of characteristics, images, or actions come to mind?

The primary goal of disclosure is to get all of the information pertaining to infidelity-related behavior out in the open.

Next to ending an affair or stopping the infidelity-related behavior, how couples handle the disclosure process is probably the most important determining factor of whether the relationship can recover.

Several recent studies have shown a correlation between emotional trauma and brain injury. Emotional trauma and PTSD have been shown to cause impairment and even damage to the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.