Trauma

For those experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Over 70% of people are exposed to a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Trauma refers to the emotional and physical impacts of witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Trauma can occur from life-threatening situations like a car wreck or a house fire, as well as life circumstances like a harmful relationship or bullying. Some people experience multiple traumatic events in their lives, while others may experience one.

Not everyone who goes through a traumatic event experiences the ongoing impacts of trauma. Some may experience stress and other trauma-related symptoms in the days following the event but find these symptoms dissipate quickly. 

For others who have experienced trauma, the effects can last years or even a lifetime. Traumatic events can lead to a significant range of emotional, physical, and mental health side effects, including sleep problems and mental health disorders. However, many interventions can improve the way individuals cope with trauma, lessening its impact on their lives.

While some may imagine trauma to be the result of an extreme, intense, life-altering situation, everyone responds differently to different events. Trauma can happen when someone goes through a situation that others may not see as particularly stressful or difficult, like a job change or struggling to make friends at school. 

Because individuals process difficult situations differently, two people can go through the same situation, with one person becoming traumatized by the experience while the other is not. Below are a few of the most common causes of trauma. However, many other events can be traumatic. 

Experiencing or witnessing violence

Experiencing a violent encounter can leave individuals feeling violated and vulnerable. They may have been attacked by someone randomly or faced violence at the hands of someone they know, like a romantic partner or family member. Additionally, witnessing violence, such as domestic violence, can leave children and adults with a sense of helplessness, insecurity, and vulnerability. Traumatic experiences like these can lead to ongoing fear, anxiety, and depression.

For those experiencing abuse, contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Support is available 24/7.

The death of a loved one 

Losing a loved one, whether suddenly or after a long illness, can take a toll on mental and emotional health, especially when one is close to the person who passed. For some, a loss can be considered a life-altering event, and the emotions that follow the death of a loved one can be challenging to manage. 

Natural disasters

Experiencing a natural disaster, such as a fire or flood, is a common form of trauma, with 18% of men and 15% of women reporting having been involved in this type of trauma. Natural disasters can be traumatic for many reasons, including but not limited to a sense of losing control, experiencing the fear of losing one’s life, and being injured or losing property during the disaster. 

Abuse

All types of abuse – physical, mental, emotional, sexual, financial – can be traumatic. Examples of abuse include child abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, and spousal abuse. Without treatment, the effects of abuse can be devastating, often leading to shame, hopelessness, depression, anger, and anxiety, among other challenging impacts. Abuse is often a cause of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

Trauma can be physical or emotional. People can experience physical trauma, such as physical abuse, as well as emotional trauma, like losing a loved one. Below, you can learn the different types or categories of trauma based on the nature in which they occur. 

Acute trauma

Acute trauma occurs due to a single traumatizing incident, like a fire or a car wreck. The impacts of acute trauma can often be treated with therapeutic interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)³ to lessen ongoing symptoms. 

Complex trauma

Complex trauma refers to experiencing various types of traumatic situations throughout one’s life or a prolonged traumatic event that one cannot escape, often involving interpersonal relationships. Talk therapy, trauma-focused therapy,⁴ and other forms of trauma-informed care can be beneficial in treating complex trauma.

Chronic trauma

Chronic trauma is repeated or ongoing traumatic experiences, such as abuse or domestic violence. Leaving the abusive situation can put a stop to the cycle of trauma, and seeking therapy may mitigate lingering symptoms of trauma. 

Childhood trauma

Childhood trauma refers to traumatic situations that occur to an individual when they are under the age of 18. Childhood trauma can refer to ongoing abuse from parents or caregivers, bullying at school, or another example of acute or complex trauma. Childhood trauma can sometimes be difficult to treat due to the difficulty of changing coping mechanisms learned in one’s formative years. However, several types of therapy can be beneficial in treating childhood trauma. 

Collective or intergenerational trauma

Collective trauma affects specific communities or cultures. Examples include racism, slavery, genocide, war, or being forcibly removed from one’s community or family. 

The effects of trauma can be physical, mental, and emotional. The effects can last a few days or weeks after a traumatic event, or they may persist for months or years. 

There are often short-term and long-term effects of trauma. Immediately after a traumatic event occurs, you may experience a sense of shock, disassociation, or denial. Some people may also experience a sense of emptiness or numbness. Long-term effects of trauma include difficulties regulating emotions, strained interpersonal relationships, flashbacks, and various physical symptoms. 

Common effects of trauma include:

• Difficulty regulating emotions
• Confusion
• Sadness
• Strained relationships
• Anger
• Numbness
• Disassociation
• Anxiety
• Sleep difficulties
• Depression
• Impulsivity
• Risky behaviors like smoking and substance use

Additionally, research shows that trauma can impact physical health. Children who experience trauma may develop chronic health conditions like headaches and stomach aches, while adults with a history of trauma are shown to experience more physical health conditions like autoimmune conditions.  

A high amount of adverse childhood events, such as witnessing domestic violence, having a parent who has gone to prison, or being emotionally or physically neglected, is associated with a higher risk for health conditions like obesity, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), there are several trauma and stressor-related disorders an individual might be diagnosed with, including the following. 

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD)

Reactive attachment disorder occurs when children are not given a supportive, nurturing environment to grow up in. As a result of needs being unmet, children may not engage in healthy attachments with parents or caregivers. Children with RAD may have symptoms like behavioral challenges, sadness, lack of interest in playing with others, withdrawal from caregivers and other adults, and not smiling.

Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED)

Children with DSED may appear friendly and willing to interact with others but struggle to create stable relationships with others. Like RAD, DSED occurs when children grow up without the proper support from caregivers or parents. This condition may be more likely to occur in children who grow up in foster care, are neglected by caregivers, or lack a consistent parent or caregiver.

Adjustment disorder

Adjustment disorder describes a situation in which an individual has a disproportionately difficult time adjusting to a change or coping with a challenging event. They may exhibit changes in mood and behavior, involving symptoms like hopelessness, worry, and social withdrawal. Adjustment disorder can occur in children and adults but is more commonly diagnosed in children.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is often associated with traumatic events, as it can develop in anyone of any age. People with PTSD often struggle with flashbacks of the traumatic experience, nightmares, mood changes, difficulties in relationships, and avoidance of reminders of the event.   

Acute stress disorder (ASD)

Acute stress disorder is similar to PTSD and includes symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety following a traumatic event. However, acute stress disorder lasts one month or less. If symptoms persist longer than a month, the condition is classified as PTSD.

Other disorders that can be more likely to occur due to trauma include:

• Substance use disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Personality disorders
• Dissociative disorders
• Depressive disorders