What is trauma? Types, symptoms, and treatments (original) (raw)

Psychological trauma is a response to an event that a person finds highly stressful. Examples include being in a war zone, a natural disaster, or an accident. Trauma can cause a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms.

Not everyone who experiences a stressful event will develop trauma. There are also various types of trauma. Some people will develop symptoms that resolve after a few weeks, while others will have more long-term effects.

With treatment, people can address the root cause of the trauma and find constructive ways to manage their symptoms.

In this article, we discuss the various types of trauma, trauma symptoms, and the available treatment options.

A traumatized person can feel a range of emotions both immediately after the event and in the long term. They may feel overwhelmed, helpless, shocked, or have difficulty processing their experiences. Trauma can also cause physical symptoms.

Trauma can have long-term effects on the person’s well-being. If symptoms persist and do not decrease in severity, it can indicate that the trauma has developed into a mental health disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Secondary trauma, or vicarious trauma, is another form of trauma. With this form of trauma, a person develops trauma symptoms from close contact with someone who has experienced a traumatic event.

Family members, mental health professionals, and others who care for those who have experienced a traumatic event are at risk of vicarious trauma. The symptoms often mirror those of PTSD.

The symptoms of trauma range from mild to severe. Many factors determine how a traumatic event affects a person, including:

Emotional and psychological responses

A person who has experienced trauma may feel:

They may have emotional outbursts, find it difficult to cope with how they feel, or withdraw from others. Flashbacks, where a person relives the traumatic event in their mind, are common, as are nightmares.

Physical responses

Along with an emotional reaction, trauma can cause physical symptoms, such as:

Sometimes, a person will also experience hyperarousal, or when someone feels as though they are in a constant state of alertness. This may make it difficult to sleep.

Individuals may also go on to develop other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse problems.

Some research estimates that 60–75% of people in North America experience a traumatic event at some point. The charity Mind in the United Kingdom lists the following as potential causes of trauma:

Traumatic events can be isolated or repeated, ongoing events. A person can also experience trauma after witnessing something traumatic happening to someone else.

People have different reactions to traumatic events. For example, those who live through the same natural disaster can respond very differently despite experiencing the same event.

PTSD develops when the symptoms of trauma persist or get worse in the weeks and months after the stressful event. PTSD is distressing and interferes with a person’s daily life and relationships.

Symptoms include severe anxiety, flashbacks, and persistent memories of the event.

Another symptom of PTSD is avoidance behaviors. If a person tries to avoid thinking about the traumatic event, visiting the place where it occurred, or avoiding its triggers, it can be a sign of PTSD.

PTSD may last for years, although treatment can help people to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Most people who experience a traumatic event do not develop PTSD. The National Institute of Mental Health estimate that the lifetime prevalence of PTSD in the United States is 6.8%.

Research indicates that children are especially vulnerable to trauma because their brains are still developing.

Children experience a heightened state of stress during terrible events, and their bodies release hormones related to stress and fear.

This type of developmental trauma can disrupt normal brain development. As a result, trauma, especially ongoing trauma, can significantly affect a child’s long-term emotional development, mental health, physical health, and behavior.

The sense of fear and helplessness may persist into adulthood. It leaves the person at a significantly higher risk of the effects of future trauma.

Several treatments can help people with trauma to cope with their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Therapy

Therapy is a first-line treatment for trauma. Ideally, an individual will work with a trauma informed or trauma focused therapist.

Types of therapy a person with trauma could benefit from include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people to change their thought patterns in order to influence their behaviors and emotions. Evidence supports CBT as the most effective approach for PTSD.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is another common trauma therapy.

During EMDR, individuals briefly relive specific traumatic experiences while the therapist directs their eye movements. EMDR aims to help people process and integrate traumatic memories.

Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that EMDR is an effective treatment for PTSD.

Somatic therapies

Some therapists use somatic or body-based techniques to help the mind and the body process trauma.

At present, there is not as much evidence to prove the effectiveness of somatic therapies as there is for CBT and EDMR. Researchers note that more data on these methods will help to determine how they work.

Medications

Medication alone cannot cure trauma or PTSD, but it can help a person manage symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. A person should talk to their doctor about their options.

Practicing self-care can help individuals to cope with the emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms of trauma. Examples of self-care for trauma include:

Exercise

Trauma can activate the body’s fight-or-flight response. Exercise may help mitigate some of these effects.

Research suggests that aerobic exercise may be an effective therapy for people with PTSD.

Individuals can aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.

Mindfulness

Mindful breathing and other mindfulness-based exercises can ground people in the present, which can stop them from reliving the traumatic event.

Studies suggest that mindfulness-based treatments are a promising intervention for PTSD, whether alone or in conjunction with other treatments.

Connection with others

Withdrawal from others is a common symptom of trauma. However, connecting with friends and family is important.

It is not necessary to talk about the trauma with other people if it is too difficult. Simply engaging with others can improve mood and well-being. Some people feel a benefit from disclosing the trauma with people they trust.

A balanced lifestyle

A person with trauma may find it difficult to relax or to sleep well. However, sleep, relaxation, and diet all play a role in mental health. If possible, a person should try to:

Support

If necessary, people can ask for support from others. This includes talking to trusted loved ones or joining a support group for trauma survivors.

People who experience persistent or severe symptoms of trauma should seek help from a mental health professional. It is especially important to seek help if the trauma symptoms interfere with daily functioning or relationships with others.

Even those with mild symptoms can feel better once they talk to someone.

Most people will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Some may experience symptoms of shock and distress, and most will recover within a short period.

A minority will experience more long-term traumatic effects, such as the development of PTSD. Therapy and self-care can help those with persistent trauma symptoms to manage these symptoms and improve their quality of life.