Psychological trauma is a response to an event that a person finds highly stressful. Examples include being in a war zone, a natural disaster, or an accident. Trauma can cause a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms.
Not everyone who experiences a stressful event will develop trauma. There are also various types of trauma. Some people will develop symptoms that resolve after a few weeks, while others will have more long-term effects.
With treatment, people can address the root cause of the trauma and find constructive ways to manage their symptoms.
In this article, we discuss the various types of trauma, trauma symptoms, and the available treatment options.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), trauma is “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.”
However, a person may experience trauma as a response to any event they find physically or emotionally threatening or harmful.
A traumatized person can feel a range of emotions both immediately after the event and in the long term. They may feel overwhelmed, helpless, shocked, or have difficulty processing their experiences. Trauma can also cause physical symptoms.
Trauma can have long-term effects on the person’s well-being. If symptoms persist and do not decrease in severity, it can indicate that the trauma has developed into a mental health disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
There are several types of trauma, including:
- Acute trauma: This results from a single stressful or dangerous event.
- Chronic trauma: This results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events. Examples include cases of child abuse, bullying, or domestic violence.
- Complex trauma: This results from exposure to multiple traumatic events.
Secondary trauma, or vicarious trauma, is another form of trauma. With this form of trauma, a person develops trauma symptoms from close contact with someone who has experienced a traumatic event.
Family members, mental health professionals, and others who care for those who have experienced a traumatic event are at risk of vicarious trauma. The symptoms often mirror those of PTSD.
The symptoms of trauma range from mild to severe. Many factors determine how a traumatic event affects a person, including:
- their characteristics
- the presence of other mental health conditions
- previous exposure to traumatic events
- the type and characteristics of the event or events
- their background and approach to handling emotions
Emotional and psychological responses
A person who has experienced trauma may feel:
- denial
- anger
- fear
- sadness
- shame
- confusion
- anxiety
- depression
- numbness
- guilt
- hopelessness
- irritability
- difficulty concentrating
They may have emotional outbursts, find it difficult to cope with how they feel, or withdraw from others. Flashbacks, where a person relives the traumatic event in their mind, are common, as are nightmares.
Physical responses
Along with an emotional reaction, trauma can cause physical symptoms, such as:
Sometimes, a person will also experience hyperarousal, or when someone feels as though they are in a constant state of alertness. This may make it difficult to sleep.
Individuals may also go on to develop other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse problems.
Some research estimates that 60–75% of people in North America experience a traumatic event at some point. The charity Mind in the United Kingdom lists the following as potential causes of trauma:
- bullying
- harassment
- physical, psychological, or sexual abuse
- sexual assault
- traffic collisions
- childbirth
- life threatening illnesses
- sudden loss of a loved one
- being attacked
- being kidnapped
- acts of terrorism
- natural disasters
- war
Traumatic events can be isolated or repeated, ongoing events. A person can also experience trauma after witnessing something traumatic happening to someone else.
People have different reactions to traumatic events. For example, those who live through the same natural disaster can respond very differently despite experiencing the same event.
PTSD develops when the symptoms of trauma persist or get worse in the weeks and months after the stressful event. PTSD is distressing and interferes with a person’s daily life and relationships.
Symptoms include severe anxiety, flashbacks, and persistent memories of the event.
Another symptom of PTSD is avoidance behaviors. If a person tries to avoid thinking about the traumatic event, visiting the place where it occurred, or avoiding its triggers, it can be a sign of PTSD.
PTSD may last for years, although treatment can help people to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Risk factors for developing PTSD include:
- previous trauma
- physical pain or injury
- having little support after the trauma
- dealing with other stressors at the same time, such as financial difficulty
- previous anxiety or depression
Most people who experience a traumatic event do not develop PTSD. The National Institute of Mental Health estimate that the lifetime prevalence of PTSD in the United States is 6.8%.
Research indicates that children are especially vulnerable to trauma because their brains are still developing.
Children experience a heightened state of stress during terrible events, and their bodies release hormones related to stress and fear.
This type of developmental trauma can disrupt normal brain development. As a result, trauma, especially ongoing trauma, can significantly affect a child’s long-term emotional development, mental health, physical health, and behavior.
The sense of fear and helplessness may persist into adulthood. It leaves the person at a significantly higher risk of the effects of future trauma.
Several treatments can help people with trauma to cope with their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Therapy
Therapy is a first-line treatment for trauma. Ideally, an individual will work with a trauma informed or trauma focused therapist.
Types of therapy a person with trauma could benefit from include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people to change their thought patterns in order to influence their behaviors and emotions. Evidence supports CBT as the most effective approach for PTSD.
Learn more about CBT here.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is another common trauma therapy.
During EMDR, individuals briefly relive specific traumatic experiences while the therapist directs their eye movements. EMDR aims to help people process and integrate traumatic memories.
Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that EMDR is an effective treatment for PTSD.
Learn more about EDMR here.
Somatic therapies
Some therapists use somatic or body-based techniques to help the mind and the body process trauma.
A review of the literature in the Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia found that body-based therapies could help a range of people. These therapies include:
- Somatic experiencing: This approach involves a therapist helping a person to relive traumatic memories in a safe space.
- Sensorimotor psychotherapy: This type of therapy combines psychotherapy with body-based techniques to turn traumatic memories into sources of strength.
- Acupoint stimulation: This involves a practitioner applying pressure to specific points on the body, which induces a state of relaxation.
- Touch therapies: Other touch therapies include Reiki, healing touch, and therapeutic touch therapy.
At present, there is not as much evidence to prove the effectiveness of somatic therapies as there is for CBT and EDMR. Researchers note that more data on these methods will help to determine how they work.
Medications
Medication alone cannot cure trauma or PTSD, but it can help a person manage symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. A person should talk to their doctor about their options.
Practicing self-care can help individuals to cope with the emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms of trauma. Examples of self-care for trauma include:
Exercise
Trauma can activate the body’s fight-or-flight response. Exercise may help mitigate some of these effects.
Research suggests that aerobic exercise may be an effective therapy for people with PTSD.
Individuals can aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
Mindfulness
Mindful breathing and other mindfulness-based exercises can ground people in the present, which can stop them from reliving the traumatic event.
Studies suggest that mindfulness-based treatments are a promising intervention for PTSD, whether alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
Connection with others
Withdrawal from others is a common symptom of trauma. However, connecting with friends and family is important.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, staying in contact with people can help to prevent trauma from becoming PTSD.
It is not necessary to talk about the trauma with other people if it is too difficult. Simply engaging with others can improve mood and well-being. Some people feel a benefit from disclosing the trauma with people they trust.
A balanced lifestyle
A person with trauma may find it difficult to relax or to sleep well. However, sleep, relaxation, and diet all play a role in mental health. If possible, a person should try to:
- sleep for 7–9 hours a night
- eat a balanced diet
- avoid alcohol and drugs
- relieve stress with mindful or enjoyable activities
Support
If necessary, people can ask for support from others. This includes talking to trusted loved ones or joining a support group for trauma survivors.
People who experience persistent or severe symptoms of trauma should seek help from a mental health professional. It is especially important to seek help if the trauma symptoms interfere with daily functioning or relationships with others.
Even those with mild symptoms can feel better once they talk to someone.
Most people will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Some may experience symptoms of shock and distress, and most will recover within a short period.
A minority will experience more long-term traumatic effects, such as the development of PTSD. Therapy and self-care can help those with persistent trauma symptoms to manage these symptoms and improve their quality of life.