What is trauma? – Trauma is a state of emotional and psychological disturbance that sometimes occurs when we are exposed to an incident or series of events that are emotionally disturbing or life-threatening.
Where does it come from? – Trauma comes from a deeply disturbing or frightening event or series of events that upset our sense of well-being.
Who has it? – Millions of people around the world suffer from trauma of some kind. Men, women, children, it happens to all races, body types, genders, etc. It is no respecter of persons.
How do you deal with it? – In order to deal with it we first need to recognize it and admit that we have it. Sometimes the stigma of admitting we need help prevents us from seeking the help we need, and we do need help if we have experienced trauma that is still affecting our lives.
Is it permanent? – The event, or series of events, that caused the trauma generally isn’t permanent, but once the event or series of the events, stops the effects can stay with us for years or in some cases permanently if not addressed and treated.
Are there degrees of trauma? – There are degrees of trauma. For example, watching a loved one die can be traumatic, but if you watch that person get suddenly and violently murdered the trauma would be much worse. The shock and awe would be tremendous, and the effects could be perpetual.
Are there different kinds of trauma? – There are different kinds of trauma. For example, a five year old girl has been missing in my area for over five weeks, with no leads on the case, despite numerous attempts and searches, and help from many agencies and organizations. That is extremely traumatizing for the family, but to another lesser degree it is traumatic for the thousands of us locally, as well as nationally, that continue to pray and hope for the best, even though it looks like it isn’t going to end well. We can call it firsthand trauma and second hand trauma, I suppose.
What organizations deal with trauma? – There are several organizations and support groups that can help with trauma. Search these out online and also talk to your therapist and/or life coach for more resources.
Stigma – Some people misunderstand trauma and tend to think of it as a sign of weakness, but these misinformed and ignorant ideas are becoming less frequents in the 21st century.
Spotting it – How do you know if you have experienced trauma? Usually it isn’t difficult to find out. If you are engaging in self-destructive behavior, or you develop an unhealthy need for drugs and/or alcohol to get you through the day there probably is a traumatic event, or events, behind it. Think about it.
Prognosis – If you are willing to get help you have every reason to feel optimistic. You can live a good life even after experiencing extreme trauma, but if you stubbornly try to do it on your own, it can be dangerous. Many people have committed suicide because the trauma in their lives made the future seem bleak or impossible to live with. If you need help, get help.
by Steve Holder
Steve Holder 