What is trauma?

Trauma seems to be talked about a lot; in the media, by educators, what exactly is it though? Does everyone who has had trauma get PTSD?

Just a little disclosure here, this blog is not intended to diagnose or treat mental health diagnoses, it is simply to provide and clarify information regarding mental health topics. If you think that the following may apply to yourself or a loved one, please contact a mental health professional for an evaluation.

Trauma is an experience that is deeply distressing or disturbing to the point that it overwhelms the nervous system, our resources to be able to cope (remember that window of tolerance), and usually involves a serious threat to our life or way of living. Trauma and PTSD, however, are not interchangeable. Nearly all of us will be exposed to if not directly experience traumas in our lifetime; accidents, witness or be subject to violence, abuse, and other unimaginable things. We hear about them happening to those that we love as well as are notified by the media of the next atrocity on a daily basis. So what then, is PTSD, and why don’t more of us have that diagnosis?

The DSM-5 is what doctors and clinicians use to determine if specific symptoms, how they present and the severity warrant a diagnosis and/or treatment. PTSD is when you not only have that exposure to a traumatic event, actual or threatened, but it continues to impact your daily life in a multitude of other ways. Bessel van der Kolk, a pioneer in trauma research since the ‘70s, describes it as such, “Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then, it's the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside people.” Traumatic events alter the way we process and recall memories and in some ways, can make the past feel present, like it’s happening all over again (i.e. re-experiencing or intrusive symptoms). Additional symptoms include avoidance of things that remind you of the trauma, which can be typical initially, as human beings we tend to avoid anything that is painful to us, physical, emotional or otherwise. But this goes on for quite a while and inconveniences the person’s life to the point of causing further stress. Negative thoughts or feelings that started or worsened after the traumatic event and symptoms related to hyperarousal and reactivity round out what classifies as PTSD.

Although many of us have these experiences or have been exposed to them throughout our lifetime, there is a factor that is not discussed nearly enough in media, literature and research, and that is resiliency. Resiliency might be already existing things in a person’s life, such as having natural supports and connecting with others, as well as existing ways of thinking about the world (outlook or mindset) and taking care of oneself (exercise, diet, and other healthy coping skills). However, it can also be taught with coping skills, learning how to identify trauma triggers, and practicing how to respond differently. There is such a thing as post traumatic GROWTH, where people who have been through terrible things actually come out the other side functioning better than they were before.

So, PTSD is not necessarily a lifelong diagnosis, healing really is possible. It starts with seeking help and finding someone you trust. Hurt people may hurt other people, but those who have healed can help others heal as well. Please contact me if you believe I might be of help towards that state of healing for your family.