A victim, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), is stated as “an emotional response to a stressful incident such as a car crash, rape, or natural disaster.”
Trauma, on the other hand, can occur as a result of any incident that a person perceives to be physically or emotionally threatening or damaging.
People who have been traumatized might experience a wide range of emotions both immediately after the occurrence and in the long run. They may feel overwhelmed, powerless, horrified, or unable to understand what has happened to them, among other emotions. Trauma can also manifest itself in the form of physical symptoms.
Trauma can have long-term consequences for a person’s health and well-being. If the symptoms remain and do not diminish in intensity, it is possible that the trauma has progressed to the point where it has manifested as a mental health problem known as a post-traumatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Trauma can be classified into various categories, including:
1. Acute trauma is defined as a single stressful or risky incident that occurs in the short term.
2. Chronic trauma: This is caused by recurrent and sustained exposure to extremely stressful situations over an extended period of time. Cases of child abuse, bullying, and domestic violence are examples of this type of behavior.
3. Complex trauma is the outcome of being exposed to a number of stressful experiences in a short period of time.
Another type of trauma is secondary trauma, often known as vicarious trauma. In this type of trauma, a person gets trauma symptoms as a result of intimate interaction with someone who has been through a terrible incident themselves.
Vicarious trauma can occur in the lives of family members, mental health professionals, and others who provide care for individuals who have been affected by a traumatic incident. The symptoms are frequently similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Symptoms
The severity of trauma symptoms can range from moderate to severe. Many factors influence how a traumatic experience impacts a person, including their age, gender, and race. The source you can rely on:
1. the qualities of the individuals
2. the existence of other mental health disorders besides schizophrenia
3. prior exposure to catastrophic events
4. the nature and features of the incident or series of related occurrences
5. their emotional history and technique to dealing with issues
Responses on an emotional and psychological level
A person who has been through trauma may develop feelings of trust.
1. denial
2. anger
3. fear
4. sadness
5. shame
6. confusion
7. anxiety
8. depression
9. numbness
10. guilt
11. hopelessness
12. irritability
13. difficulty concentrating
Individuals may experience emotional outbursts, find it difficult to cope with their feelings or withdraw socially from their peers. NIGHTMARES, as well as flashbacks, are both frequent experiences for those who have experienced trauma in their life.
Physical repercussions
Trauma can result in bodily symptoms as well as emotional reactions, such as the following:
1. headaches
2. signs and symptoms of stomach distress
3. fatigue
4. a fast heartbeat; 5. perspiration
6. having a jittery feeling
Occasionally, a person will also have hyperarousalTrusted Source, which is defined as the sensation of being on high alert all of the time. It may be difficult to fall asleep as a result of this.
Individuals may also acquire additional mental health problems as a result of their experiences, such as depression, anxiety, and drug misuse difficulties.
Experiences that are traumatic
According to some estimates, 60–75 percent of people in North America will suffer a traumatic incident at some time in their lives. Trusted Source The following are listed as probable causes of trauma by the Mind charity in the United Kingdom:
1. bullying
2. harassment
3. Abuse that is physical, psychological, or sexual
4. sexual assaults; 5. road accidents;
6. pregnancy and delivery; 7. life-threatening diseases
8. the unexpected death of a loved one; 9. being assaulted; and 10. being abducted
11. Terrorist acts or threats of terrorism
Natural catastrophes (number 12)
13. war
Traumatic experiences might be one-time occurrences or they can be repetitive and continuous. A person may potentially suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after seeing something horrific occur to someone else.
People’s reactions to stressful situations vary from one another. For example, people who have lived through the same natural disaster might react significantly differently despite the fact that they have both witnessed and experienced the same occurrence.
PTSD
When the symptoms of trauma continue or worsen in the weeks and months following the stressful incident, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops. PTSD is an unpleasant condition that interferes with a person’s everyday activities and interpersonal interactions.
Severe anxiety, flashbacks, and lasting recollections of the incident are all common symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Another characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is avoidance behavior. If a person attempts to avoid thinking about the horrific incident, visiting the location where it occurred, or avoiding the triggers associated with it, this may be a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can continue for years, therapy can help patients control their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.
The following are risk factors for getting PTSD:
1. a past traumatic event
2. physical discomfort or harm
3. receiving little help following the trauma
4. having to cope with many stressors at the same time, such as financial difficulties
5. Anxiety or depression symptoms in the past
The majority of persons who are exposed to a traumatic incident do not acquire post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the lifetime prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the United States is 6.8 percent.
Childhood trauma
According to research, children are particularly sensitive to trauma since their brains are still developing at the time of the event.
The stress response in children is heightened in the aftermath of horrible events, and their bodies release chemicals that are associated with worry and dread.
This sort of developmental trauma has the potential to interfere with normal brain development. Because of this, trauma, particularly persistent trauma, may have a major impact on a child’s long-term emotional development, mental health, physical health, and behavior, as well as their behavior.
It is possible that the feelings of anxiety and powerlessness will last throughout adulthood. It exposes the individual to a considerably increased danger. Trusted source for information on the consequences of future trauma.
Treatment
Several therapies are available to assist persons who have experienced trauma in coping with their symptoms and improving their overall quality of life.
Therapy is the first line of defense against trauma and psychological distress. In an ideal
the situation, an individual will work with a therapist who is trauma-informed or trauma-focused.
The following types of treatment may be beneficial to someone who has experienced trauma:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of treatment in which the patient thinks about his or her thoughts and feelings.
It is possible to modify one’s thought processes in order to have an impact on one’s behavior and emotions through cognitive behavioral therapy, often known as CBT. Evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is supported by Trusted Source.
Somatic treatments are a type of therapy that involves the body’s internal organs.
Some therapists employ somatic or body-based approaches to aid in the processing of trauma on both the mental and physical levels.
According to a review of the evidence published in the Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia, body-based treatments have the potential to benefit a wide spectrum of patients.
These treatments are as follows:
1. One technique is somatic experience, which is defined as the act of letting someone revisit painful events in a safe place with the assistance of a therapist.
2. Sensorimotor psychotherapy: This style of treatment combines psychotherapy with body-based approaches in order to transform painful experiences into sources of strength and resilience. 3.
3. Acupoint stimulation: This includes the application of pressure to particular places on the body by a practitioner, which results in the induction of a state of relaxation.
4. Other touch therapies include Reiki, healing touch, and therapeutic touch therapy, to name a few examples.
As compared to CBT and EDMR, there is currently less evidence to support the efficacy of somatic treatments at this time. According to the researchers, more data on these approaches will aid in determining how well they perform.
Medication alone will not heal trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it can assist a person in managing symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, and sleep problems, among others. A person should consult with their physician about their treatment choices.
Read More
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and how can it be prevented?
Reference
www.bbc.com/health
www.unicef.org/health