Trauma

Trauma could be an injury, loss of a loved one or property or a serious threat, or any overwhelming emotional experience.

Everyone experiences trauma differently.

 Responses to trauma

Typical responses include strong emotional and/or physical reactions:

• shock/denial
• emotional reactions
• recovery/coming to terms with the event and the response to it

Things to be aware of:

• Feelings including fear, anger, guilt, anxiety, paranoia, depression
• Triggers like smells, tastes, noises
• Anger – smell – tragedy – sadness – good – confusion – memory – sadness
• Changes in sleep patterns/eating habits, inability to make decisions, thinking patterns

Occasionally the traumatic event is so painful that professional assistance from a counsellor may be helpful. This does not imply craziness or weakness.

Not all people will react to a traumatic incident and of those who do, the reactions vary enormously.