Trauma And Health

Trauma & Health

It is now well established that traumas early in life can have a strong impact on adult health. In fact, research has shown that many chronic illnesses are stress-induced, trauma-related, or both (1). 

In the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of therapy,  our personality is viewed as being made up of smaller sub-personalities ("parts") that each take on a specific role to help us navigate our life (2).   It is also possible for a part to use a symptom or illness to communicate it's need for attention.   Once such a part is identified, it is possible to communicate directly with it to find out what it wants you to know and influence how it has been affecting your body -- perhaps letting it know that it no longer has to use your body this way to get your attention. 

Published research on the use of IFS with rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune condition, has shown that learning to communicate with parts related to the illness can lead to the alleviation of symptoms (3). In this study, 9 months of IFS therapy  resulted in a positive effect that persisted for one year after the study ended.   Compared to a control group, those in the IFS group showed:

• Improved general function and well-being
• Reduced pain
• Reduced symptoms of depression
• Improved resilience
• Increased self-compassion

Furthermore, there is empirical evidence that IFS can also produce similar benefits in patients with PTSD, addiction, and depression.   

As a medical doctor and psychotherapist, I can help you explore the possible link between unhealed past traumas and current symptoms of a chronic illness or symptoms not explained by traditional medicine.



NOTES:

1. See the Resource page for references on the ACE study.
2. For an explanation of "parts" in the Internal Family Systems model, see the Treatment Approach tab and the Resource tab.
3. See the Resource page for IFS research references.