Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The experience of trauma, and therefore the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, has expanded throughout the years parallel to the advancements in research in this area. While initially thought to only occur in combat veterans, trauma then began to include victims of abuse where threats were made to a person’s physical safety, with more recent definitions including threats to someone’s emotional safety given increased understanding of the impact adverse childhood experiences have on emotional development. While exact definitions vary according to the source, trauma is best understood within the following categories:  

• Acute trauma- a one-time event with a reaction that is typically shorter in duration; examples include a car accident, physical or sexual assault, or the sudden death of a loved one 
• Chronic trauma- a response to events that are repeated or prolonged, such as persistent bullying, neglect, ongoing abuse, or domestic violence 
• Complex trauma- arises from repeated or multiple traumatic events from which there is no possibility of escape, such as a child experiencing abuse in their home 
• Secondary or vicarious trauma- an emotional response to exposure to other people’s suffering; common in first responders and physicians  Not all people who experience trauma will develop PTSD, which is a set of symptoms that include reexperiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal/reactivity, and mood dysregulation. Healing from trauma and experiencing a different way of living is possible with therapy being a great place to start that process.