Trauma

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Trauma is exposure to tragic and devastating experiences—accidents, natural disasters, war/civil unrest, medical procedures, loss of a parent/caregiver, or physical/sexual assault — causing extreme feelings of helplessness, horror, and fear. Trauma victims could be directly affected as survivors, rescue workers, or firsthand witnesses — or indirectly affected as friends/relatives of victims or via the media. While many recover within a short period of time, those with lasting symptoms can have their lives disrupted. Treatment is necessary to overcome intense responses, like shock and denial in the short term, and unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and physical symptoms in the long term. Those more likely to develop severe symptoms may have an existing mental health condition, face ongoing stress, have had traumatic experiences in the past, and/or lack support from family and friends. Based on severity, age of onset, recurrence of the event or its memory, trauma categories include:

• Complex trauma are long-term effects on a child exposed to multiple, traumatic events — such as abuse or profound neglect — disrupting development/forming secure attachments.
• Childhood or developmental trauma occurs when a child experiences or witnesses an emotionally painful or distressful event, often resulting in lasting mental and physical effects.
• Acute stress disorder (ASD) occurs among a small percentage of people, who have intense emotional or physical distress usually in the first month following a catastrophic event.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur among those who don’t naturally recover after experiencing a traumatic event, even when not in danger.
• Somatic symptom disorder involves excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors relating to physical symptoms — pain, weakness, shortness of breath — resulting in major distress or problems