Every human being reacts differently to different situations, and reactions to trauma are also highly distinct. Before understanding the consequences of trauma, let's know what trauma is.
What is trauma?
Trauma or traumatic event is a highly devastating and upsetting event like exposure to death or life-threatening experience, serious injury, or sexual assault. Moreover, various other catastrophic events that threaten a person's physical, psychological, and emotional integrity are also deemed trauma, like the loss of job, a divorce or break-up, or a humiliating social experience. Traumatic events lead to extreme powerlessness, helplessness, and a person's fundamental beliefs can be shattered.
What is trauma?
Trauma or traumatic event is a highly devastating and upsetting event like exposure to death or life-threatening experience, serious injury, or sexual assault. Moreover, various other catastrophic events that threaten a person's physical, psychological, and emotional integrity are also deemed trauma, like the loss of job, a divorce or break-up, or a humiliating social experience. Traumatic events lead to extreme powerlessness, helplessness, and a person's fundamental beliefs can be shattered.
Reactions to trauma
Traumatic stress leads to a sequence of psycho-emotional and psychopathological consequences. Various reactions as a result of traumatic experiences are mentioned below:
Why some people cope well than others?
Many individuals show trauma-related symptoms immediately after the event. These symptoms, however, usually resolve themselves. But for some individuals, who have insufficient coping strategies and have an inadequate social support system, the trauma-related symptoms can linger on.
What if trauma-related symptoms left untreated?
When the trauma-related symptoms are left untreated, it can further lead to various physical and psychological issues. These include gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular problems, hypertension, short temper and irritability, social isolation, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The consequences and symptoms of trauma can hang on for years, and unresolved trauma has a severe impact on the social, emotional, and other vital areas of functioning.
Most of the time, people think that not talking about trauma is the best solution to deal with trauma. However, it is like stuffing your closet with clothes and hoping that clothes will automatically get arranged. But it is not possible. You have to open the closet at some point, and it is always better to do it soon than later. Getting psychological support earlier leads to a better prognosis and treatment.
Traumatic stress leads to a sequence of psycho-emotional and psychopathological consequences. Various reactions as a result of traumatic experiences are mentioned below:
- Physiological: Fatigue, sleep problems, dizziness, excessive sweating, increased heart rate.
- Behavioral: active avoidance of the cues related to trauma, startling response, lack of pleasure in daily activities.
- Emotional: anxiety, numbing sensation, social withdrawal, over-reactivity to minor stimulus.
- Cognitive: memory and concentration issues, intrusive thoughts and images, and replaying the traumatic events.
Why some people cope well than others?
Many individuals show trauma-related symptoms immediately after the event. These symptoms, however, usually resolve themselves. But for some individuals, who have insufficient coping strategies and have an inadequate social support system, the trauma-related symptoms can linger on.
What if trauma-related symptoms left untreated?
When the trauma-related symptoms are left untreated, it can further lead to various physical and psychological issues. These include gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular problems, hypertension, short temper and irritability, social isolation, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The consequences and symptoms of trauma can hang on for years, and unresolved trauma has a severe impact on the social, emotional, and other vital areas of functioning.
Most of the time, people think that not talking about trauma is the best solution to deal with trauma. However, it is like stuffing your closet with clothes and hoping that clothes will automatically get arranged. But it is not possible. You have to open the closet at some point, and it is always better to do it soon than later. Getting psychological support earlier leads to a better prognosis and treatment.
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