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Facts About Trauma

There are different types and levels of Trauma

Most people when hearing the word trauma, they generalize it as a painful or horrible ordeal. This is quite understandable because by definition alone, trauma is damage caused by physical harm from an external source.

 

The source of the damage may cause a “pain range” from light to excruciating – the latter, most of the time is severe enough to cause damage to the person’s psyche. This type of “major trauma” is called psychological trauma.

Effects of Trauma –

Some people who experience light traumatic pain has no problems shrugging it off to their deep subconscious. They treat it as a learning experience never to do again. 

While others who experience a relatively heavier traumatic encounter develop a certain kind of fear or negative characteristic. The list below contains some of the “possible” negative characteristics to be developed. The is borrowed from a published online article by the University of New Hampshire (http://unhcc.unh.edu/dealing-effects-trauma-%E2%80%93-self-help-guide):

  • unrest in certain situations
  •  
  • being “shut down”
  • being very passive
  • feeling depressed
  • eating problems
  • needing to do certain things over and over
  • unusual fears
  • impatience
  • always having to have things a certain way
  • doing strange or risky things
  • having a hard time concentrating
  • wanting to hurt yourself
  • being unable to trust anyone
  • feeling unlikable

Hiding A Painful Traumatic Encounter Is Never A Good Thing –

As mentioned above, people who experience a painful traumatic experience has the possibility of developing the listed characteristics. 

Some examples of a major trauma event are listed below: 

 

  1. A severe accident
  2. Abuse in any form (sexual, physical, emotional)
  3. Being neglected / unaccepted
  4. War experiences
  5. Personal major illnesses, surgeries, and disabilities
  6. Sickness or death of a love one or family member
  7. Unfortunate events like being loss, close encounter with natural disasters,

 

Unfortunately, some people do not realize that they encountered such an experience which is why they have an inexplicable fear of something or manifesting a poor  attitude.

 

On the other hand, there are individuals who are aware of the traumatic experience but opted to keep it a secret for varying reasons – fear of it happening again, embarrassment, etc…

Either way, repressing and locking it away is not healthy. It does not only affect one’s self but others as well. There is a tendency that individuals who developed a negative characteristic because of the violent experience will also hurt the people around them, push them away, that might eventually lead to another painful encounter or memory.

Dealing with Trauma –

Seeking professional advice and assistance is the best way to deal with trauma – especially if we are talking about a very violent encounter that is severely affecting the current lifestyle of the individual.

 

However, there are thousands of so-called “self help guides” published on the internet. Unfortunately, with the numerous choices to choose from, it might get confusing and may not produce acceptable results. Before following one, don’t forget to consult and discuss the procedure with a professional.

Trauma is a serious matter –

Dealing and facing a major trauma is a serious matter. 

As indicated on the statistics gathered and published by FCADV (Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence – http://www.fcadv.org/projects-programs/trauma-mental-health-domestic-violence#stats):

 

  • Between 3.3 million and 10 million children witness domestic violence annually (American Bar Association, 2009).
  • Across studies of US and Canadian women receiving services for domestic violence, rates of depression ranged from 17% to 72%, and rates of PTSD ranged from 33% to 88% (Warshaw & Barnes, 2003).

PTSD and Crime

Lastly, major trauma may lead to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Extreme cases of PTSD may lead an individual to commit a crime. 

 

A good example would be the murder case of Iraq War Veteran Eddie Ray Routh for the shootings of Chad Littlefield and Chris Kyle – a former Navy SEAL, author, and whose life story was the inspiration for the recently released film “American Sniper”

 

According to the news, the defense team of Routh will revolve around the state of mind of their client and that 15% of Iraq and Afghan war veterans have PTSD.