Trauma
Trauma is when we experience very stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control. It could be one incident, or an ongoing event that happens over a long period of time. Most of us will experience an event in our lives that could be considered traumatic. But we won't all be affected the same way. Trauma can happen at any age. And it can affect us at any time, including a long time after the event has happened.
What are the types of trauma?
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intense distress in the immediate aftermath of a one-time event of short duration. The reaction itself is short-term, resolving on its own or with the help of counseling. A car crash, physical or sexual assault, the sudden death of a loved one, or even a medical emergency can create acute trauma.
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efers to the harmful effects of events that are repeated or prolonged. It can develop in response to persistent bullying, neglect, abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual), and domestic violence. Because of its repeated nature and inescapability, chronic trauma often has serious mental health consequences for individuals.
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can arise from experiencing repeated or multiple traumatic events of differing types from which there is no possibility of escape, such as repeated child abuse. The sense of being trapped is a feature of the experience. Like other types of trauma, it can undermine a sense of safety in the world and beget hypervigilance, and constant (and exhausting!) monitoring of the environment for the possibility of threat. Complex trauma experienced in childhood has been associated with the development of borderline personality disorder as well as PTSD.
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arises from exposure to other people’s suffering and can strike those in professions that are called on to respond to injury and mayhem, notably physicians, first responders, and law enforcement. Over time, such individuals are at risk for compassion fatigue, whereby they avoid investing emotionally in other people in an attempt to protect themselves from experiencing distress.
How to support someone experiencing trauma?
DO’S
Acknowledge the event and their reaction to it.
Listen to the person if they want to talk about it, even if they want to repeat details many times. But don’t force them to talk about it.
Accept their feelings; don’t judge them.
Encourage them to join you for fun and positive activities.
Keep reaching out to them.
DONT’S
Do not force someone to talk.
Do not ask intrusive questions.
Avoid asking questions that begin with “why”; they can sound victim-blaming.
Do not give advice unless asked specifically.
Do not resort to trivializing cliches such as “everything happens for a reason” or “I know just how you feel.”