What is trauma?

Trauma is an emotional response to a stressful experience.

Unfortunately, the majority of people, at some point or another, will encounter a traumatic experience in their life.

Traumatic events happen when a person’s sense of safety is threatened, in an unexpected way that feels beyond the person’s control. It creates a sense that catastrophe could happen at any moment.

Even though trauma is typically associated with major events (natural disasters, accidents, cases of assault or sudden loss) it’s important to refer it can also happen in simple aspects of daily life (as relationships or toxic work environments).

Trauma can have serious consequences on a person’s mental health and attitude towards the world around them.

There are different types of trauma that can affect people in distinctive ways:

Acute trauma occurs after a situation of intense distress, usually after a one-time event of short duration as an accident, an assault or a sudden loss.

Chronic trauma is caused by repeated distressing events, for example situations of war, repeated bullying, neglect or abuse.

Complex trauma is caused when the person is exposed to multiple traumatic events over time, often associated with specific relationships or contexts. It can have long-term interpersonal consequences, affecting the person’s attitude towards relationships.

Secondary or vicarious trauma is caused by an exposure to other people’s suffering, by witnessing disturbing images or stories. Is often associated with helping professions.

People dealing with trauma can experience:

• Depression;

• Feeling numb or detached (dissociation);

• Fatigue and difficulty concentrating;

• Inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia);

• Anger, irritability and/or mood swings;

• Guilt, self-blame and shame;

• Anxiety and fear;

• Feeling unsafe and hypervigilant;

• Negative self-perception;

• Negative perception of others;

• Difficulty trusting and thinking positively;

• Withdrawing and isolating from others;

• Avoidance;

• Re-experiencing of the traumatic event (either by experiencing intrusive thoughts, flashbacks or nightmares);