How Does Trauma Affect An Individual

1. HOW DOES TRAUMA AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL?

2. WHAT DEFINES A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE? • Most people will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives, but what is traumatic for one individual might be relatively insignificant in someone else’s life. There’s no way to predict whether an event will be traumatic or what after-effects a person might experience. Some types of experiences, however, are more likely to provoke the threat response associated with later negative consequences: • Car accidents • Sports injuries • Sexual assault or abuse • Giving birth • Domestic violence

3. HOW DOES TRAUMA AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL? • A traumatic experience does not necessarily lead to posttraumatic stress in an individual, nor does it always lead to immediate psychological consequences. Depending on when an individual experiences trauma, the event might alter fundamental brain development, leading to lasting mental or physical health concerns. • Other effects related to traumatic experiences might include: • Depression • Anxiety • Fear • Worry • Social anxiety • Chronic pain

4. TRAUMATIC RESILIENCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY • Some people might bounce back from trauma with relative ease, even without medical intervention or professional support. This is generally called traumatic resilience and is not necessarily reflective of personal strength, moral character, or other traits often associated with resiliency. • Traumatic resilience is a separate psychological concept that does not seem to be related to an individual’s personality, history, or character. • Researchers continue to evaluate trends in people who experience higher levels of lasting psychological damage or more mental health effects after traumatic events. • A number of environmental factors may make someone more prone to harmful psychological effects of trauma and can make it more difficult for an individual to heal. These factors can include stress, substance use and addiction, further exposure to trauma, and generational trauma.

5. COPING AND RECOVERY AFTER TRAUMA Most individuals are able to recover from negative consequences of trauma with time and adequate support. For some, coping with trauma’s effects is a matter of time, patience, and self-care. It is possible to begin treating symptoms of trauma with holistic or homeopathic means–for example, some bodywork professionals recommend massage and related modalities. Trauma Psychologist Sydneyeffectively treat both PTSD and isolated psychological issues related to trauma, and various types of therapy have been created specifically to address trauma responses, such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for PTSD. Cognitive behavioural therapy and narrative processing therapies are also recommended for individuals who have experienced trauma. In addition to therapy, some individuals find psychotropic medication or other prescriptions can provide relief from symptoms such as insomnia, loss of appetite, lethargy, and anxiety.

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