Trauma can strike in many different ways and produce many different responses.
Some people feel completely overwhelmed, while others appear to be able to cope.
For some, recovery is speedy, for others it can be a long and painful process.
Whatever our response, traumatic events have a significant impact on our lives.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines trauma as “a delayed or protracted response to a stressful event or situation (either short or long-lasting) of an exceptionally threatening or long-lasting nature, which is likely to cause pervasive distress in almost anyone”.
Yet with the right kind of support, we are well equipped to cope with trauma.
We are often far more resilient than we realise, even if we despair of ever returning to a normal existence.
Many types of event can cause trauma, and they are not always obvious.
Terrorist attacks and natural disasters are perhaps the most familiar, largely because they receive the most intense media coverage, but they are not the most frequent.
Studies have shown that rape is tragically one of the most common trauma-provoking events.
Others include muggings, car crashes, accidents in the workplace, the unexpected death of family members or colleagues or the serious illness of a child.
Often a relatively mundane event can provoke a deeply traumatised response if it follows a long period of cumulative stress or trauma.
Commonly referred to as the ‘straw that breaks the camel’s back’, these are incidents such as failing to win a contract at work or a trivial argument at home that may not be world-shattering in themselves, but feel catastrophic.
Research has indicated that man-made traumas tend to do greater psychological damage because they destroy our sense of trust in other people.
Traumas perpetrated by loved ones are especially harmful.
It has also been established that witnessing a traumatic event can be every bit as disturbing as actually being caught up in one.
Just as there is a whole range of events that we can experience as traumatic, so there are different levels of reaction, each leading to symptoms of varying intensity.
Stress
Every human being, no matter how resilient, will experience a range of physical and psychological responses to stressful experiences.
They are completely normal and act as an internal warning system, alerting us to the fact that we are or have been under some kind of threat.
Symptoms are many and varied and will often subside of their own accord.
Symptoms can include:
Acute stress
These are symptoms that will appear within four weeks of a trauma and can last between a few days and several weeks.
Acute stress disorder can severely hamper people’s ability to function normally.
Symptoms include:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Awareness of PTSD has certainly risen in recent years, but the high media profile of the disorder makes it tempting to believe that it is much more common than it actually is.
Research in the United States has shown that an average of 8 percent of people will develop PTSD at some point in their lives.
Having said that, a much higher proportion of those who have survived traumatic experiences will temporarily suffer from some or all of the symptoms, including those mentioned above.
So, while it’s important not to exaggerate the threat, the symptoms must be taken very seriously.
They fall into three categories:
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) lists a host of confusing reactions, including shock and disbelief, numbness, fear and anger.
Other more complex responses include euphoria that one has survived, guilt for not having saved others and shame for not having reacted as one might have wished.
Perhaps one of the most serious consequences for many victims of trauma is the impact on their sense of meaning.
A traumatic event can make people question everything that they believe in and leave them feeling helpless and hopeless.
But, there is also a tremendous opportunity for growth.
There is disagreement over when exactly a formal diagnosis of PTSD can be made, with estimates varying from between four weeks after a traumatic event to several months.
For many people, the symptoms will subside of their own accord, but for others, they will persist.
Also, others will not experience symptoms until sometime after the event.
The point here is to keep a close eye on your reactions and those of the people you live and work with.
If you feel you are not coping, it is vital that you consult your doctor or a mental health professional.
Post-traumatic growth
There is now mounting evidence (backed by clinical research) that traumatic experiences can lead to significant personal growth and a richer sense of what it means to be alive.
Again, these experiences will not be the same for everyone.
Positive feelings will also not necessarily erase painful emotions.
But, researchers have identified several areas of potential growth:
Life may never be quite the same after a traumatic event, but with the right kind of support, our worst experiences have the potential to lead us into new and more profound ways of being.
Practical guidelines
The role of social support in dealing with trauma cannot be over-emphasised.
The good news is that it is something that we can all do something about.
Trauma robs us of our sense of belonging and meaning.
So, long before we have to go and see a doctor or a therapist, we need to get connected.
Trusted friends and family are usually the first port of call, but many trauma survivors find it helpful to join support groups or online communities.
Finding reliable sources of support is a critical step towards restoring a sense of safety in the world.
But, there are also many other important coping strategies:
You can read more about CiC’s trauma support here.