Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) “Trauma“ comes from the Greek, meaning „wound“ or „injury“. Trauma depicts a negative, distressing event, by which a person is confronted. Either personally, as a witness or through the experiences from others.
Possible traumatic experiences are:
-witnessing or being the victim of violence
-experiences of war
-severe sickness
-the death of a loved one
-(traffic) accident(s)
-violent confrontation
Consequences of a traumatic event
Some people suffer from a series of psychological and physical symptoms as a result of a traumatic event. These recognizable syndromes are summarized in the concept "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD). The type, severity and duration of the following symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the nature of the event:
- Intrusions: Involuntary associations with the traumatic event that are paired with anxiety (e.g. in the form of images, nightmares or flashbacks)
- Avoidance/ Emotional numbness: Avoidance of stimuli (things and situations) that remind of the trauma, overall withdrawal, loss of interest, low motivation
- Hyper Arousal: Sleeping problems, easily startled, easily irritated, concentration disturbances.
Frequent results of a traumatic experience also include feelings of guilt and shame, anxiety and depression as well as intense brooding about the event itself and considerations as to how one could have prevented the event, are all common consequences.