A Normal Reaction to Abnormal Events
What Is Trauma?
Unfortunately, people sometimes experience or witness terrible events. When this causes someone to fear for their life or safety, it’s called a “trauma.”
A traumatic event can be experienced directly. Or it can be witnessed when it happens to someone else. And, a person can even be exposed to trauma by hearing someone else’s story.
Trauma vs. “trauma”
Sometimes people casually use the word “traumatic” to describe things that don’t meet the official definition. For example, a friend might call a tense conversation with her boss traumatic.
This may be upsetting, but it’s not technically traumatic. It won’t have the same effect on your mind and body. Car accidents, assaults, certain military experiences, and natural disasters are examples of traumatic events.
Reactions After Traumatic Events
When people experience a traumatic event, it can stick with them. For most people, the effects only last for a short time. For others, it can take a while to move beyond them. Either way, the reaction is totally normal. We all need time to process things that are scary or unexpected. Following a trauma, people may be affected in these ways:
Mood
After a trauma, people might feel angry, sad, afraid, guilty, or embarrassed. People often describe being on edge. They feel like they’re constantly on the lookout for danger.
Thinking
Trauma can affect how people think about themselves. It can change how you see the world around you. It’s common to worry that the world is different or less safe than you thought. Thoughts about the trauma can make concentration more challenging too.
Behaviors
After a traumatic event, you might find your behavior changes. You might do more safety checks. Very often, people who have survived trauma will avoid certain situations or people. Many become isolated as they stick to the safety of their own home. Strong emotions can lead to unexpected outbursts.
Physical Reactions
After experiencing a trauma, people may startle easily. You could have other physical symptoms, such as:
- Headaches
- Stomach aches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Heart palpitations
- Digestive issues
What Is PTSD?
PTSD stands for posttraumatic stress disorder.
If the effects of trauma last for over a month and strongly impact your work, relationships, or life, it can mean you have PTSD.
Remember, most people who experience a trauma don’t get PTSD.
The Many Shapes and Sizes of PTSD