Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences.

Traumatic events do not only happen in wars, natural disasters and physical assault; they can happen as a result of traffic accidents, hearing a disturbing story, workplace harassment, and the loss of a loved one. 

Not everyone who is exposed to traumatic experiences will develop post-traumatic stress. Some people may develop symptoms such as sadness, anger, fear, shame, which may lead to nightmares, insomnia, emotional outbursts and relationship difficulties. Some symptoms may disappear after a few weeks; others may be ongoing. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse and addiction may be physiological conditions linked to traumatic experience. 

The outdated belief that internal strength or machismo can stave off trauma must be surrendered in order to address such issues as suicide and drug abuse.

There is no ‘cure’ for trauma nor any quick fixes, but there are many effective therapies. Trauma-informed therapists work from a framework which includes asking “what happened to this person.” Such therapists do not ask “what’s wrong with this person." We believe it is the disintegrated experience of the disturbing event that causes symptoms. 

If someone is experiencing signs of trauma, it can help to talk about what trauma might look like, giving the person the chance to view their symptoms through a trauma-informed lens. The benefits of seeking professional help are numerous, not only for the person, but for our entire community.