I’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard someone say, “Just get over it” to a trauma survivor. That is one of the least supportive statements you can make to a trauma survivor.
Major trauma can have profound and lasting effects on both the mind AND body. When a person experiences a traumatic event, their mind and body can respond in various ways to cope with the overwhelming stress and emotional impact.
Before going into the ways major trauma affects our minds and bodies, I want to share a relatively benign experience to illustrate how trauma can affect us, even if it is a relatively small incident and decades after a trauma.
When I was in middle school, the school’s roof was in the process of being replaced. Our school was 80 or 90 years old, and as a Catholic school, budgets did not always allow for timely repairs. One day, we were getting ready to take a history exam. We heard a strange noise, and all of a sudden, one of the roofers fell through the ceiling, almost hitting one of my classmate’s desks. I was sitting the next row over from her and can recall the fear in her face. Thankfully, no one was majorly hurt, and the roofer was able to walk away fine. Our test was rescheduled so we could process and also figure out what would happen to our classroom.
Fast forward 25ish years. A part of the side of my roof where it connected to the house fell off, so I called a roofing company to fix it. While I was getting ready for work, I heard him on the roof above me as he kindly noticed and removed a large branch. However, my heart rate rapidly increased, and I started to hyperventilate.
I rarely thought about that experience in middle school, but my mind and body sure did when I heard the roofer walking around. Nothing dangerous happened this time, but it took quite a few CBT exercises and a therapy session or two for me to reduce the emotional intensity of such a minor incident.
Now imagine people who experience major threats to their lives through events like rape, gun violence, natural disasters, major medical events etc. Their minds and bodies go through far more intense physiological and psychological changes than I experienced. I was brought back to that long ago memory unexpectedly.
Just saying, “Get over it; it was so long ago”, ignores those very real impacts.
Impacts of Major Trauma
If you are a major trauma survivor and wondering why trauma still impacts you, or you wonder why trauma could still affect someone, these are just some of the ways trauma impacts survivors, especially without mental health treatment:
1. Psychological Effects:
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): Within the first 30 days after a traumatic incident, someone might develop symptoms like hypervigilance, sleep issues, avoidance, flashbacks, etc. Symptoms may resolve during the first 30 days. If not, PTSD might be diagnosed.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Trauma can lead to the development of PTSD, characterized by intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened anxiety related to the traumatic event. PTSD is not diagnosable until after the first 30 days post-traumatic event. However, someone may not meet the criteria for ASD and months or years after the traumatic event, begin to develop PTSD symptoms.
Dissociation: Some individuals may experience dissociation, a defense mechanism in which they disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, or surroundings to avoid overwhelming emotions.
Emotional Dysregulation: Major trauma can lead to difficulty regulating emotions, causing mood swings, anger outbursts, or emotional numbness.
Depression and Anxiety: Major trauma can increase the risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders due to the ongoing impact of the traumatic experience.
Hypervigilance: Trauma survivors may experience a state of hypervigilance, where they are constantly on high alert, expecting danger, and finding it challenging to relax or feel safe.
2. Physical Effects:
Increased Cortisol: Major trauma triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol, which can have long-term effects on the body, affecting sleep, digestion, and immune function.
Sleep Disturbances: Trauma can lead to sleep difficulties, including insomnia, nightmares, and disrupted sleep patterns.
Chronic Pain: Some individuals may experience physical symptoms, such as chronic pain or tension, as a result of trauma-related stress.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Major trauma can impact the digestive system, leading to gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers.
Immune System Suppression: Chronic stress from trauma can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to illnesses.
Brain structure changes: This article talks about how important centers of our brain, like the amygdala and hippocampus, have structural and functional changes. These areas impact our memory systems and emotional responses.
3. Cognitive Effects:
Memory Impairment: Major trauma can affect memory processing, leading to difficulties in recalling specific details or periods of time during the traumatic event.
Difficulty Concentrating: Trauma may make it challenging to focus and concentrate on tasks due to intrusive thoughts or heightened arousal.
Negative Self-Perception: Trauma can lead to negative beliefs about oneself and the world, contributing to low self-esteem and a sense of hopelessness.
It's important to recognize that each person's response to major trauma is unique, and not everyone will experience the same effects.
The impact of trauma can vary depending on the type, severity, and duration of the traumatic event, as well as individual coping mechanisms and support systems. It is also important to note that even if you don’t have major trauma, small traumas can add up and produce similar trauma responses.
Seeking professional help from mental health experts and trauma-informed therapies can aid in the healing process and support individuals in restoring their mental and physical well-being.
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