What is Trauma?
Trauma can be understood as experiencing or witnessing an event involving actual or threatened serious injury, sexual violence, or death. *(Based on definition of trauma in DSM-5)
Examples of trauma include:
Serious accident or serious injury
Natural disaster (e.g., tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire, or flood)
Sudden life-threatening illness
Being attacked with a gun, knife, or other weapon
Attacked without a weapon, but with the intent to kill or seriously injure
Severely beaten, or witnessing severe physical violence
Sexual abuse as a child or adolescent
Rape or attempted rape
Physical force or the threat of physical force leading to unwanted sexual contact
Aggravated assault
Combat or being in a combat zone
Accidental death or murder of a close friend or family member
Suicide of a close friend or family member
Common Reactions to Trauma Include:
Fear and anxiety
Re-experiencing of the trauma: unwanted thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares
Increased arousal, impatience
Avoidance
Anger and irritability
Guilt and shame
Grief and depression
Negative self-image
Difficult trusting others
Use of alcohol or other substances
Difficulty with sexual relationships
