2.1 Trauma theory and its impact on mental health

Trauma can deeply affect our mental and emotional well-being. It comes in different forms, from single events to ongoing experiences, and can lead to various psychological impacts like anxiety, flashbacks, and behavioral changes.

Trauma often intertwines with mental health disorders such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. How we experience and cope with trauma depends on factors like age, gender, culture, and personal resilience. Understanding these aspects helps in addressing trauma's effects.

Understanding Trauma and Its Effects

Types of trauma

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  Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) symptoms and diagnostic criteria View original

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  "Workplace Trauma.pdf" by Lynell Hodge View original

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• 

  Trauma and Abuse including Type 1 and Type 2 (often cause of Complex trauma) View original

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• 

  Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) symptoms and diagnostic criteria View original

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  "Workplace Trauma.pdf" by Lynell Hodge View original

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  Trauma and Abuse including Type 1 and Type 2 (often cause of Complex trauma) View original

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• Trauma overwhelms individual's ability to cope emotionally after distressing event
• Acute trauma stems from single, isolated incident (car accident, natural disaster, assault)
• Chronic trauma involves repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic events (domestic violence, ongoing abuse, war)
• Complex trauma encompasses multiple, varied traumatic experiences often interpersonal and occurring during developmental stages (childhood neglect, human trafficking)

Psychological impact of trauma

• Immediate reactions include shock, disbelief, fear, anxiety, anger, irritability
• Long-term effects manifest as hypervigilance, heightened startle response, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, emotional numbing, dissociation
• Cognitive impacts lead to memory problems, difficulty concentrating, negative self-perception
• Behavioral changes result in avoidance of trauma reminders, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances

Trauma and Mental Health

Trauma and mental health disorders

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) characterized by re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance behaviors, negative alterations in cognition and mood
• Depression marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, feelings of worthlessness
• Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety, panic attacks, phobias related to trauma
• Substance use disorders arise from self-medication to cope with trauma symptoms, increasing risk of addiction
• Eating disorders develop as control-seeking behavior, body image disturbances
• Personality disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Complex PTSD may emerge

Individual factors in trauma experience

• Age-related factors consider developmental stage at time of trauma, brain plasticity, resilience, ability to verbalize experiences
• Gender differences influence types of trauma more common in each gender, societal expectations for coping, hormonal influences on stress response
• Cultural background shapes interpretations of traumatic events, stigma surrounding mental health, traditional healing practices
• Resilience factors include social support systems, pre-existing coping skills, access to mental health resources
• Biological factors encompass genetic predisposition to stress sensitivity, epigenetic changes due to trauma
• Socioeconomic status affects access to healthcare and support services, exposure to ongoing stressors
• Previous trauma history impacts cumulative effects of multiple traumas, learned coping mechanisms from past experiences