SUPPORTING PEOPLE LIVING WITH TRAUMA & PTSD

Though trauma and PTSD are words that are frequently used in a casual and cavalier manner, it’s a concept that is not well understood by those who have not personally experienced it. Psychological trauma refers to the emotional and psychological response of an individual to an extremely distressing event or series of events. These events are often perceived as life-threatening, deeply disturbing, or beyond the scope of everyday human experience. 

While PTSD is often portrayed in movies, where a character has visual flashbacks, recalling something terrible, after encountering a trigger, PTSD does not always manifest like that for everyone. And all traumas do not necessarily result in PTSD, it’s not always so straightforwards. Firstly, there are different categories of trauma. For example: 

• Acute trauma is the term used to describe trauma stemming from a sudden event (e.g., a car accident, a natural disaster like an earth quake, or an assault). 
• Chronic trauma is the term used to describe trauma stemming from repeated or prolonged exposure to adverse conditions (e.g., war, homeless. 
• Complex trauma is the term used to describe trauma stemming from exposure to multiple traumatic  events—often of an invasive, interpersonal nature—and the wide-ranging,  long-term effects of this exposure. 
• Racial trauma is the term used to describe trauma resulting from the emotional impact of stress related to racism, racial discrimination, and race-related stressors, such as being affected by stereotypes, hurtful comments, or barriers to advancement.
• Generational trauma refers to the psychological effects of trauma that are passed down from one generation to the next. Even if descendants don’t directly experience the original trauma, they may still exhibit emotional or psychological symptoms tied to it, especially as they learn fears, responses, and coping mechanisms from their caregivers.
• Religious trauma is the term used to describe trauma that takes place in a religious setting, often through psychological or emotional distress or emotionally manipulative practices.
• Vicarious trauma is the term used to describe trauma stemming from the burden of witnessing or hearing painful struggles on daily basis. 

The impact of trauma can vary widely among individuals. Some may experience symptoms immediately after the event, while others may develop them over time. Regardless of the category, trauma can have a profound impact on one's daily life. People who experience trauma are intimately aware of how much suffering trauma can cause day to day. Trauma alters the brain making it difficult to accurately assess the level of threat each situation poses. Trauma can cause you to misidentify threats, causing your body’s natural response to threats to be overwhelmed. Traumas disrupts one’s sense of safety, one's ability to trust, one's ability to sleep, one's ability to find rest or relaxation, one’s capacity to be in an healthy relationship, and one’s belief that they truly belong. Trauma is often an isolating experience. People who experience trauma often feel misunderstood or feel alone in their suffering. It is not uncommon for trauma to mimic depression, as trauma survivors often struggle with low mood, lack of interest in things they previously enjoyed, a persistent sense of hopelessness, and the tendency to isolate. It's also not unusual for trauma survivors to engage in unhealthy coping strategies, including alcohol. 

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