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Home » Consumer Information » Trauma

Psychological Trauma

When a person endures an event so traumatic that it does damage to the psyche, this is known as psychological trauma. That damage can include physical and chemical changes of the brain and result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Such a disorder alters their ability deal to with stress.

A traumatic event can be defined in a single experience or in a series of repetitive ones. These experiences leave a lasting impression, making it very difficult for an individual to ponder ideas and face emotions that distinctly remind them of the traumatic event that they endured. While the person attempts to cope with the danger at hand, a real sense of being overwhelmed may not actually set in for weeks or even years. Trauma may be caused by any number of events, but there are some commonalities among them. Oftentimes, the person's familiarity and trust of the world around them is compromised, and their human rights are violated. This can trigger a state of shock highlighted by confusion and insecurity. Similar results may also occur when the people or institutions relied upon by someone for survival turn against them unexpectedly.

Psychological trauma may coexist with physical trauma or be entirely separate. It is usually initiated by sexually abusive or violent behavior and the threat of or witnessing of either act. This is particularly potent when the victim is young. Disasters like hurricanes, fires, war, or another form of mass violence can lead to psychological trauma as well. Extended exposure to circumstances like extreme poverty or less intense abuse (e.g., verbal abuse) can be quite traumatic too. In rare cases, a violent offender may even be traumatized if they feel as if they have no control over their urge to act out indecently.

As can be expected, not everyone will respond the same to a specific event; one person may suffer from trauma while another may be totally unaffected by the events that unfolded. In short, not everyone who experiences an event that would generally be viewed as traumatic will undergo psychological trauma in its wake.

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