What is "Trauma"?

The word “trauma” is often used to describe ongoing emotional distress or difficulty coping. While this is common in everyday language, psychology gives trauma a more specific meaning.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), trauma involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence. This can happen in different ways—by directly experiencing an event, witnessing it, or learning that it happened to someone close (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Trauma may come from a single event or repeated experiences. When symptoms begin to significantly affect daily life, it may develop into a trauma-related condition. It may be diagnosed or undiagnosed. Many people, especially women and children, live with active trauma symptoms that are below a threshold for diagnosis, unaware that these are NOT "part of their personality", and can be helped with good therapy.

Significant trauma can lead to diagnosed conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and other labels.

Symptoms are usually grouped into four types:

• Intrusive symptoms – such as flashbacks, nightmares, or unwanted memories

• Avoidance symptoms – avoiding reminders or thoughts about the event

• Anxiety symptoms – including panic, feeling constantly “on edge,” or hypervigilance

• Depressive symptoms – negative thoughts, low mood, or loss of interest

For a diagnosis, these symptoms need to be present for more than one month and affect everyday functioning (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

What makes trauma worse?

Trauma affects everyone differently, but some factors can increase its impact:

• Repeated exposure rather than a single event

• Events caused by people (such as violence or war) rather than accidents

• Experiences that are intentional or targeted by someone who knows you

• Harm caused by someone trusted, such as in family or domestic violence

Research from the World Health Organization shows that ongoing or intentional harm, especially from someone close, can lead to more complex trauma responses (WHO, 2019).

Common PTSD symptoms:

Trauma responses are not the same for everyone. Experiences in childhood may affect people differently than trauma experienced as an adult.

Common effects include:

• Difficulty sleeping

• Feeling disconnected or “numb” (dissociation)

• Avoiding reminders of the event

• Frequent intrusive memories

• Strong emotional or panic reactions to triggers

These symptoms can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to know that support and effective treatments are available (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). It is also important to seek help even if you don't receive a diagnosis, as many symptoms can reduced significantly through therapy, increasing your confidence, capacity to cope and better understanding & care of your needs.

If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of trauma, seeking support early can make a meaningful difference.

Reaching out is a strong and important first step. If you would like support, feel free to contact Helen at Nurturing Growth for compassionate, professional guidance.