When people use the word trauma, they often mean different things. For some, this means that they have gone through a very difficult experience, such as a divorce, loss of a job, or a family crisis. Others may use the word trauma to refer to having been subjected to emotional, physical or sexual abuse, or neglectful caretaking as a child. For yet others, trauma may refer to living through life-threatening events such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, serving in the armed forces during a time of conflict, car accidents, or being a victim of crime or violence. All of these definitions of trauma are legitimate, and each person’s experience of trauma is highly subjective.
A person who experiences a catastrophic event may develop ongoing difficulties known as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The following are some symptoms of PTSD:
Recurrent and instrusive distressing recollections or dreams of
the event;
Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event was still happening;
Intense distress when faced with reminders of the event;
Efforts to avoid any thoughts, places, or activities associated
with the trauma;
Difficulty recalling important aspects of the event;
Feeling detached from others, emotional numbing;
Difficulties with sleep, irritability, concentration, and anger;
Being "on alert" all the time;
Startling easily
For those who have been abused as a child or adult, whether physically, sexually, or emotionally, this experience can become interwoven in the fabric of daily life in negative ways. Often, people who have been abused have trouble forming trusting, stable relationships. They may have difficulty with emotional regulation, leading to problems with depression, anxiety, and mood swings. Sometimes these difficulties lead to other problems such as substance abuse and other forms of self-injury.