UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Traumatic events can be different for everyone, and what may be traumatic for one person may not be for another. Trauma can result from a variety of experiences, such as abuse, violence, accidents, natural disasters, and medical procedures.

When someone experiences trauma, it can affect both their mind and body. Trauma can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, dissociation, nightmares, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. Trauma can also cause physical symptoms such as chronic pain, headaches, digestive issues, and fatigue.

There are different types of trauma, including acute trauma, chronic trauma, and complex trauma. Acute trauma refers to a single traumatic event, such as a car accident or natural disaster. Chronic trauma refers to ongoing, long-term trauma, such as living in an abusive relationship or growing up in an unstable household. Complex trauma refers to the exposure to multiple traumatic events, such as childhood abuse and neglect.

It’s important to recognize that trauma can have a significant impact on a person’s life and well-being. Understanding trauma and its effects is the first step in developing skills to heal from it.