What Is Trauma And The Signs Of It
Everyone endures potentially traumatizing events in their life. Unfortunately, it’s unavoidable. In some instances, these events produce an emotional response and that is what we mean by “trauma.” What causes trauma can vary widely. What matters more is the long-term and often debilitating impact it can have on us. This potentially includes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
There is much more awareness about trauma and PTSD now but more work needs to be done. Since we’re all at risk, it works to everyone’s benefit to better understand these realities. Let’s find out more about trauma and how to recognize it.
What Causes Trauma?
In theory, anything can cause trauma. The circumstances and context play a role as does your age. However, generally speaking, there are some well-known and common causes. Here are just a few:
Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, etc.)
Neglect or abandonment
Death of a loved one
Accident, illness, injury, or disability
Divorce or separation
Natural disasters
Crime or terrorism
Being in a war zone
Kidnapping, trafficking, or being prostituted
Domestic violence
Growing up in a home with substance abuse
How Common is PTSD?
Roughly five percent of American adults will have PTSD in any given year
The number of PTSD cases in the U.S. in 2020 alone was 13 million
Four percent of all men and 8 percent of all women will have PTSD at some point in their life
4 Types of Trauma
Acute: This is when a singular event causes a trauma response.
Chronic: When trauma is ongoing (e.g abuse, bullying, trafficking, etc.), it is considered chronic.
Complex: People who have experienced multiple, different events may experience complex trauma.
Secondary: You do not have to be the direct target to be traumatized. Witnessing such events is enough and is not unusual for people who spend a lot of time in stressful situations (soldiers, healthcare workers, etc.)
Signs of Trauma
While it’s crucial to understand that mental health disorders can appear differently for each person, there are many red flags to watch for. These can be physical or emotional.
Physical Signs of Trauma
Insomnia and other sleep disturbances (including nightmares)
Digestive problems
Unexplained muscle aches and tension (including headaches)
Elevated heart rate
Sweating
Fatigue
Feeling jumpy and easily startled
Emotional Signs of Trauma
Flashbacks and other intrusive thoughts
Intense feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, and hopelessness
Self-isolation and being withdrawn from others
Confusion and an inability to concentrate
Denial or shock
Depression
Angry outbursts
Fear and anxiety
Obsessive worrying
What Does Trauma Do to Us?
When someone experiences something horrific, they often are unable to process it in real time. Their stress reaction kicks in and their priority is to survive. This is obviously an important hard-wired function but unfortunately, the trade-off may be a long-term struggle. If the memories your brain has stored of this event are not resolved, you will remain stuck in a version of survival mode.
You temporarily lose the ability to differentiate between real and perceived danger. As you can see from the signs listed above, this can cause a disruption in all aspects of your life. Unless and until you get the help you need, this scenario is unlikely to improve. Remember, it’s not your fault and is not a sign of any kind of inherent flaw. You were victimized by a traumatic event and need professional support to effectively resolve this reality.
Treatment is Available
The fact that trauma and PTSD are both very common has facilitated much work and research in this realm. Many skilled practitioners and effective treatment options are available. Your journey toward recovery begins when you reach out for more information about men's issues or working with a black therapist.
