What is trauma ?
Trauma (greek: wound) is a burdensome event or a situation which is emotionally disturbing or life-threatening and cannot be managed and processed by the affected person. Most trauma is experienced in womb and early years in life. It leaves deep wounds in the soul and has an unfavourable effect on the mental, physical, social, emotional and/or spiritual well-being of the affected person.
Traumatic experiences :
(examples)
Physical, sexual and emotional abuse
In the womb
Neglect during childhood
Serious accidents
Illness
Poverty
Discrimination, racism, oppression
Sudden, unexplained separation from a loved one
Living with a family member with mental health or substance use disorders
Although trauma can occur at any age, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, it has particularly debilitating long-term effects on children’s developing brains.
Possible symptoms of trauma :
Tremor
Sweating
Increased heart rate
High blood pressure
Respiratory distress
Chills
Migraine
Gastrointestinal problems
Back pain
Headache
Anxiety
Fears
Helplessness
Irritability / anger / aggression
Tendency toward shame
Emotional numbing
Isolation
Exhaustion
Depression
Aggression
Language difficulties
Amnesia
Concentration difficulty
Decision making difficulty
Feeling unsafe
Feeling betrayed
Difficulty trusting others
. . .
It may be years before the symptoms manifest, and usually they are not recognized as a result of the traumatic experience. Often, the symptoms are caused by an unconscious reactivation of the trauma (flashbacks), e.g. when a situation similar to the traumatic experience occurs.
How someone responds to a traumatic experience is personal. Research has shown that traumatic experiences are associated with both behavioral health and chronic physical health conditions.
Because these behavioral health concerns can present challenges in relationships, careers and other aspects of life, it is important to understand the nature and impact of trauma, and to explore healing.
Most importantly - healing is possible.
