What is Trauma?
What is trauma?
A trauma is a stressful event that overwhelms one's capacity to cope. While some events would be traumatizing to anyone, other events could be traumatizing to one individual but not to another.
What are the types of trauma?
- Acute trauma: a singular and isolated stressful event that results in symptoms of traumatization (e.g. sexual assault, theft, car accident, etc.)
- Complex trauma: a series of multiple events over an extended period of time, often occurring in childhood, which result in traumatization
What are the signs of being traumatized by something?
- Anxiety
- Avoidance of places, things, or events that remind you of the event
- Intrusive thoughts about the event
- Flashbacks or nightmares
- Sudden and intense emotions, such as anger or sadness
- Difficulty coping with conflict
- Trouble sleeping
What is the difference between being traumatized and having PTSD?
Not everyone who experiences a trauma will develop PTSD. PTSD is a particular type of intense traumatization with specific diagnostic criteria and which requires treatment, but it is also important to note that PTSD is a highly treatable disorder and there is a strong likelihood of making a full recovery.
Treatment for Trauma
Talk Therapy
Talk therapy can help an individual process traumatic events.
EMDR
Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy designed to help the brain process stressful memories.
Group Therapy and/or Support Groups
Group therapy and/or support groups can help connect you to people who have been through similar situations.
Medication
Medication can help relieve some symptoms of trauma such as depression and anxiety.
Residential Treatment
If an individual is struggling to function, residential treatment may be recommended.