EXPERIENCING TRAUMA

By: Jan Baker, LMSW

Of the Counseling Associates staff

 

Trauma is a deep injury to the mind or body of a human being. It is usually caused by an external source-such as a catastrophic event, force of nature or intentional act by another human-which overwhelms the ability to emotionally cope or which threatens physical survival.

 

Two conditions generally determine what makes an event or series of events traumatic: The nature of the event itself, as well as what that event means. Some extreme experiences such as combat, terrorist acts and rape are likely to be traumatic for anyone. However, other occurrences in life can be experienced as traumatic to one person but not to another. Physical and biological factors such as a person's temperament, age, gender and ethnicity can all effect whether someone is traumatized or not.

 

Traumatized people commonly experience severe anxiety-worrisome, intrusive thoughts plus intense emotional and physical reactions. The mind stays ever vigilant, on red alert for perceived threats to survival. Over time, this state of hyperarousal sensitizes the nervous system, causing it to sound all alarms for even minor stressors in life. The body gradually takes longer to return to the resting state.

 

As a result, trauma victims often report feeling drained-physically, emotionally and mentally. They commonly start to rely on avoidance as a way of sidestepping triggers to their anxiety. They also may turn to alcohol and other mood-altering substances to numb their feelings, or they may resort to cutting and self-mutilation to soothe their hyperaroused states.

 

Other symptoms common to trauma are: insomnia, depressed mood, flashbacks related to the event, difficulty concentrating, mistrust, chronic anger, gaps in memory, an exaggerated startle response, indecision, irritability, confusion, guilt and shame, loss of confidence, frustration, muscle tension, trembling, nausea, digestive tract problems and panic attacks.

 

Trauma victims often blame themselves for not being able to control their symptoms, as if it were a sign of personal weakness. However, trauma cannot be willed away. It needs to be explored and worked through in order for healing to occur.