Trauma and abuse
Health Psychology

Overview:

Our life is filled with many uncertainties. Trauma and abuse come under this, they are just unthinkable possibilities. Our news is filled with news of trauma & abuse.  Even our loved ones are not spared of this.

In this article, we’ll see about the causes and effects of trauma. We will discuss the ways to come out of trauma.

Traumatic events –  What is it?

A traumatic experience is caused by physical, emotional, spiritual harm. The person undergoing this may feel extremely frightened always.

Few might not know how to react / will be in refusal about its effects. Most importantly they require, help & time to recover and regain stability.

A few examples of traumatic events are as follows :

  • physical pain (accident)
  • serious illness
  • war & terrorism
  • natural disasters
  • witnessing a death
  • Sexual abuse
  • domestic & community violence
  • Loss & Traumatic grief

Complicated grief occurs cause of the death of a loved one. Life changes can set off adjustment disorder. If confronted with these situations, this results in shock. Which is similar to the traumatic events mentioned above.

Relation between trama & mental health:

Trauma has a continuous effect on mental, physical, and emotional health. This results in mental health conditions and they are:

Three main types of trauma: Acute, Chronic, or Complex

  • Acute trauma – outcomes of a single incident.
  • Chronic trauma – is repeated (domestic abuse)
  • Complex trauma – is exposure to diverse & multiple traumatic events.

Abuse can happen anytime, right from childhood to adulthood. Abuse is defined as treating people with cruelty. It can be emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual.

Effects of abuse/trauma:

Has past abuse/trauma impaired your mental health?

It’s difficult to know how much your mental health is affected by trauma. The symptoms don’t start to affect life for many months or years after the trauma.

Consult your physician regarding these symptoms if you have any

  • Anxiety
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Anger
  • Depression
  • Changes in mood or appetite
  • Abusing drugs or alcohol

Ways to handle traumatic stress

  • Observe if you avoid things in life and try to stay engaged in work & social life.
  • Spend time with others to evade becoming withdrawn. 
  • Pursue hobbies & other interests.
  • Share the occurrence with family/close friends/diary.
  • Give yourself time and know that you can’t control everything.
  • Ask for help from people who care about you. Attend a local support group.
  • Find a support group guided by a trained professional.
  • Eat a well-balanced diet, exercise, get adequate rest, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
  • If you believe you have symptoms of a substance use disorder, discuss with a doctor. 
  • Maintain a daily routine with preplanned activities.
  • Avoid major life decisions.

What to do if I was abused or traumatized?

The sooner you get professional help, the better. If you are physically hurt, consult a doctor ASAP. Call the police. The physician and the policemen can help file what happened to you. This is crucial if you decide to press charges against those who attacked you.

If your quality of life is affected emotionally by changes in how you feel. Visit a mental health professional. They’ll help make sense of symptoms you may have that are related to your abuse/trauma. 

The best way to deal with trauma is by leaning on your loved ones. Give yourself time to heal. Be patient & don’t be hard on yourself. Take it easy.

Time to visit a professional

You should get professional help if symptoms continue and hinder your daily activities.

Occurrences with traumatic stress appear in a different way for children. Signs that a child requires professional are:

  • emotional outbursts
  • aggressive behavior
  • withdrawal
  • persistent difficulty in sleeping
  • continued obsession with the traumatic event
  • pressing problems at school

Conclusion:

Firstly, trauma & abuse isn’t something we get into ourselves.

Let’s depend on our loved ones in these trying times & overcome this. Don’t ever feel that you are a burden to those who care about you!

Help is always available, just reach out. . Support people around you with these symptoms. Be positive and follow up with your health care professional. Enjoy little things in life and come out of this stronger.

 

Subin Joshua
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Author: Hi there, my name is Subin Joshua, and I am a Medical student. I grew up in a family of teachers and know that being a social worker is my calling. My passion for helping others has been evident in my involvement in helping the poor and needy for the last three years. Through those experiences, I have learned to interact with a diverse group of people, which has increased my ability to relate to others.