What is it about?
Trauma results from extraordinary stressful events such as accidents and natural disasters. They are harmful and threatening in nature, which can cause physical and emotional distress to individuals. Subsequently, they can lead to lasting adverse effects on an individual’s functioning and overall well-being — physical, social and emotional [1].
Types of Trauma
This condition can be further classified into three broad categories [1, 2]:
- Acute: results from a single incident (e.g., accident, violent attack), especially if it was unexpected or occurred in childhood.
- Chronic: repeated and prolonged incidents (e.g., domestic abuse, bullying)
- Complex: exposure to varied and multiple painful events, particularly in an invasive and interpersonal way (e.g., the sudden death of a loved one, break up of a significant relationship)
The After-effects
Individuals react differently to devastating events. They could display or experience a wide range of physical and emotional reactions. These reactions include but are not limited to [3, 4]:
Emotional and Psychological Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts and memories
- Depression
- Anxiety and nervousness
- Guilt, shame and self-blame
- Anger, irritability, and/or mood swings
- Withdrawal and isolation from day-to-day activities
Physical Symptoms
- Insomnia or nightmares
- Muscle tensions, aches and pains
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Racing heartbeats
- Avoiding people and places associated with the distressing event
