The word “Trauma” has been broadly used to describe our reaction to negative circumstances. Before it becomes a watered-down buzzword that joins the category of terms whose true definition has become lost in the fray of meaningless jargon, its important to understand its power and the weight it bears on our lives.
Trauma is defined as the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms our ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes sense of self and the ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences. (IntegratedListening.com)
Ubiquitous and prevalent, trauma is experienced in varying degrees by at least 70% of the world population. Many of us have deep-seeded trauma and how we have coped with its effect in our lives can be seen in our relationships, how we view ourselves, communication styles, and even our world view.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what events are defined as traumatic. Trauma can range in severity from being forced to live in a war-torn environment, to being raised in an abusive, needs-deficient household – from a personal assault to generational; “silent, covert, and undefined, surfacing through nuances and inadvertently taught or implied throughout someone’s life from an early age onward.” (M. English, Ph.D, Health.org).
While our understanding of what it is, is subjective our response to trauma is what determines our ability to thrive. Curious about what trauma responses you may experience? Here are a *few:
Common Responses and Symptoms of Trauma
Response to a traumatic event varies significantly among people, but there are some basic, common symptoms.
Emotional signs include:
- sadness
- anger
- denial
- fear
- shame
These may lead to:
- nightmares
- insomnia
- difficulty with relationships
- emotional outbursts
Common physical symptoms:
- nausea
- dizziness
- altered sleep patterns
- changes in appetite
- headaches
- gastrointestinal problems
Psychological disorders may include:
- PTSD
- depression
- anxiety
- dissociative disorders
- substance abuse problems
Ultimately, psychological intervention is important to helping us identify and evaluate trauma in our lives, as well as understand our response, and develop coping techniques. It is also important to understand that while trauma greatly impacts our lives, it is something to heal from and evolve with. For more information talk to a clinician at nugenttherapy.com
Sources:
Generational Trauma: Health.org
Different Degrees of Trauma; Psychology Today