WHAT IS TRAUMA?
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, crime, natural disaster, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, death of a loved one, war, and more. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical.
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Trauma does not discriminate, age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation do not matter. Trauma is a common experience for adults and children in American communities.
For this reason, the need to address trauma is seen as an important part of effective behavioral health care and an integral part of the healing and recovery process.
3 TYPES OF TRAUMA
Acute trauma reflects intense distress in the immediate aftermath of a one-time event of short duration. The reaction is short-term, resolving on its own or with the help of counseling or other support. 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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Chronic trauma refers 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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Complex trauma 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 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.
EFFECTS OF TRAUMA
Effects of trauma place a heavy burden on individuals, families, and communities. Although many people who experience a traumatic event will go on with their lives without lasting negative effects, others will have difficulties. How someone responds to a traumatic experience is personal.
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Research shows that trauma is associated with both behavioral health and chronic physical health conditions, especially those traumatic events that occur during childhood. Substance use, mental health conditions, and other risky behaviors have been linked with traumatic experiences. These behavioral health concerns can present challenges in relationships, careers, and other aspects of life, and it is important to understand the nature and impact of trauma, and to explore healing.
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TREATMENT
Concerned that you or a loved one may be experiencing mental illness? You are not alone. Get professional help. Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being, yet mental illness affects millions of people and their families nationwide.
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CHILDREN & TRAUMA
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA);
More than two thirds of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by age 16. Potentially traumatic events include:
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Psychological, physical, or sexual abuse
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Community or school violence
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Witnessing or experiencing domestic violence
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National disasters or terrorism
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Commercial sexual exploitation
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Sudden or violent loss of a loved one
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Refugee or war experiences
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Military family-related stressors (e.g., deployment, parental loss or injury)
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Physical or sexual assault
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Neglect
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Serious accidents or life-threatening illness
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Each day, more than 1,000 youth are treated in emergency departments for physical assault-related injuries.
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In 2019, about 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property in the last year.
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8% of high school students had been in a physical fight on school property one or more times during the 12 months before the survey.
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Each day, about 14 youth die from homicide, and more than 1,300 are treated in emergency departments for violence-related injuries.
The impact of child traumatic stress can last beyond childhood. Children suffering from trauma may experience:
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Learning problems
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Increased use of health and mental health services
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Increase involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice
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Long-term health problems (e.g., diabetes and heart disease)
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Trauma is a risk factor for nearly all behavioral health and substance use disorders.
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The good news is that children can and do recover from traumatic events, and we play an important role in their recovery.
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Critical to children's recovery is a supportive caring system, access to treatments, and service that are trauma informed.
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What does the effects of childhood trauma look like in adulthood?
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Childhood Trauma can impact future relationships
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Contribute to depression and low self-esteem
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Self-destructive behaviors
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Mood disorders
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Thoughts of suicide
Adults need to know that they are not too old or too far removed to get help
Know that your thoughts and feelings about things that happened to you years ago are valid
No matter when you experienced abuse in your life, it is never too late to seek help
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