WHAT IS TRAUMA
Psychological trauma is an experience and an
individual response by one or many potentially threatening and disturbing events
such as natural disasters (e.g. earthquake), physical assault, sexual assault,
property loss, physical loss, violent agency (e.g. causing death willfully),
loss by death, loss of relationship, bearing witness to a tragedy (e.g.
September 11th, 2001), portent of danger (e.g. being threatened with bodily
harm), threatened loss (e.g. learning a loved one is terminally ill), and loss
of status (e.g. being fired).
Traumatic events affect survivors, first responders, friends
and family of those involved. These events may also impact those who have seen
the event in person or through alternate media resources such as television or
pictures.
Regardless of the source, psychological trauma includes three
significant elements:
• The event was unexpected and sudden
• The individual was unprepared
• Nothing could be done to prevent it
It is common for people who experience a traumatic event to have various intense
reactions. A multitude of feelings such as intense fear, helplessness, loss of
control, and terror of death. Other reactions may include
• Shock
• Nausea
• Disorganized behavior
• Numbness
• Guilt
• Nightmares
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Sadness
• Loss of Pleasure
• Irritability
• Fear
• Frightening thoughts and memories
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Increased or decreased eating habits
For further information for children, adolescents, special needs populations:
•
Common Reactions
•
Middle School
•
High School
•
Adults
•
Seniors
For further information regarding reactions, visit:
•
National Center for PTSD
•
The U.S. Office of Crime
•
American Psychological Association
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