Trauma & PTSD
“Even if you’ve accumulated a house full of nice things and the picture of your life fits inside a beautiful frame, if you have experienced trauma but haven’t excavated it, the wounded parts of you will affect everything you’ve managed to build.” – Oprah Winfrey
Trauma refers to any experience that is deeply distressing or disturbing and exceeds a person's capacity to cope with it. Trauma can occur in a variety of situations, such as physical or sexual abuse, natural disasters, accidents, war, or other violent or life-threatening events. It can also result from ongoing experiences of emotional abuse, neglect, or other forms of interpersonal violence.
Trauma can have a profound and lasting impact on a person's mental, emotional, and physical health. People who experience trauma may develop symptoms such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociation, and other related conditions. These symptoms can affect a person's relationships, work, and quality of life.
Anyone can experience trauma, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. However, some populations, such as children, women, and individuals from marginalized communities, may be more vulnerable to experiencing trauma due to systemic issues like oppression, inequality, and discrimination.
Healing from trauma is a complex and ongoing process that typically involves a combination of therapeutic interventions and support from loved ones. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating trauma, as everyone's experience and needs are unique. However, some effective treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and other trauma-focused therapies. The goal treatment is to help individuals develop coping mechanisms to manage their symptoms, reduce the impact of the traumatic event, and improve their quality of life. It can also help individuals feel more in control of their emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and find meaning and purpose in life despite the trauma.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop in some people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic or life-threatening event. PTSD can also develop from repeated exposure to traumatic experiences, such as working in a high-stress job like law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, and front line medical providers (including doctors, nurses, and mental health providers).
Symptoms of PTSD can include:
Intrusive memories: Unwanted and recurrent memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about the traumatic event.
Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, or activities that remind you of the traumatic event.
Negative thoughts and feelings: Feeling detached, guilty, ashamed, or numb; loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable.
Hypervigilance: Feeling easily startled or on edge, having difficulty sleeping, experiencing irritability, or having a hard time concentrating.
Types of Trauma
Anyone can experience trauma or develop PTSD. It’s also important to remember that trauma is relative and that everyone has a unique response to distressing situations. It is possible for two individuals to experience the same event and have completely different responses. There are many different types of trauma, including:
Physical trauma: This refers to any type of physical injury or harm, such as broken bones, burns, or cuts.
Emotional trauma: This can include a wide range of experiences that result in emotional distress or pain, such as the death of a loved one, abuse, or neglect.
Sexual trauma: This refers to any unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact or experience, including rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse.
Psychological trauma: This can include experiences that lead to significant psychological distress, such as witnessing violence or natural disasters, experiencing a traumatic event, or being involved in a life-threatening situation.
Childhood trauma: This refers to any type of trauma experienced during childhood, such as neglect, abuse, or exposure to violence.
Complex trauma: This refers to repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic events, often occurring within a specific context such as war, captivity, or long-term abuse.
Historical trauma: This refers to the collective trauma experienced by a group of people due to a shared history of oppression, such as slavery or genocide.
Medical trauma: This can include experiences related to medical treatments or procedures, such as surgery, hospitalization, birth trauma, situations that lacked informed consent or diagnosis of a serious illness.
Intergenerational trauma: This refers to the transmission of trauma from one generation to the next, often through cultural or familial practices or beliefs.
Trauma is often thought of as capital “T,” little “t,” and vicarious trauma. None of these traumas are better or worse than the others and all call lead to the development of PTSD/C-PTSD. At Lotus Counseling Collective, all experiences of trauma are treated as valid and real.
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Capital “T” traumas are events that involve extreme and often life-threatening experiences, which can cause significant and long-lasting psychological and physical effects. These events can be singular or repeated, and they often involve interpersonal violence, natural disasters, accidents, or combat exposure.
Examples of capital “T” traumas include but are not limited to:
Sexual assault or abuse
Physical assault or violence
War or combat exposure
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes
Terrorist attacks
Severe accidents, such as car crashes or plane crashes
Life-threatening illnesses or medical emergencies
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Little “t” traumas are events that may not be life-threatening or involve extreme danger but are still distressing and can cause psychological or emotional stress. These events are often chronic, ongoing, or repeated experiences that can cause significant negative impact on a person's mental and emotional health.
Examples of little “t” traumas include but are not limited to:
Bullying or harassment
Emotional abuse or neglect
Family conflict or divorce
Loss of a loved one or pet
Academic or work-related stress
Financial difficulties or job loss
Chronic illness or medical conditions
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Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma, is a type of trauma that can develop in individuals who are exposed to the traumatic experiences of others, such as first responders, mental health professionals, social workers, journalists, and other caregivers.
Vicarious trauma can occur when an individual is repeatedly exposed to the trauma of others, either directly or indirectly, and can develop symptoms similar to those of PTSD, such as:
Intrusive thoughts or images related to the trauma
Avoidance of situations or people related to the trauma
Emotional numbing or detachment
Hypervigilance or heightened anxiety
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
Experiencing physical symptoms, such as headaches or gastrointestinal problems
The symptoms of vicarious trauma can significantly impact an individual's ability to function in their personal and professional life. It's important for individuals who work in fields where they are frequently exposed to the trauma of others to practice self-care and seek support to manage the potential impact of vicarious trauma.
