The Theory Of Trauma During The Diathesis Stress Model Of Having Congenital Characteristics Interact With Certain Life Experiences

Describing a psychological or mental health response following exposure to a traumatic event has become an unachievable goal since there is no response to it. It is apparent that there are individual differences in resilience and risk factors that play a crucial role in response to potentially traumatic event and prevent a description of a response to an event that would affect people uniformly. During the course of a normal life span, most people at different times in their lives are confronted with the adverse events such as the death of a close friend or relative (Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995).

Trauma can be defined as an event or experience that hinders an individual’s ability to cope (Covington, 2008). These experiences have the power to alter biology and brain function, especially earlier on in life. Trauma can change an individual’s world-view, impacting their sense of self. This can lead to difficulties with self-regulation and higher incidences of impulsive behavior (Markoff et al., 2005). Often, individuals who have endured traumatic incidences turn to self-medication as a form of coping (De Bellis, 2002).

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic

Trauma is perceived as a physical or psychological threat or assault to a person’s physical integrity, sense of self, safety and/or survival or to the physical safety of a significant other; family member, friend, partner. (Kilpatrick, Saunders, and Smith, 2003). An adolescent may experience trauma from a variety of experiences, including but not limited to: abuse (sexual, physical, and/or emotional); neglect; abandonment; bullying; exposure to domestic violence and/ or community violence; natural disasters; medical procedures; loss/grief due to a death of a family member(s); surgery; accidents or serious illness; and war (Kilpatrick, Saunders, and Smith, 2003).

Alhough individuals respond differently to traumatic incidents, going through a traumatic event where a death or mutiple deaths occur, can result in guilt and symptoms that are detrimental to the individual. Though many individuals experiences to traumatic incidents

“American Psychiatric Association defines trauma as an event that represents a threat to life or personal integrity. Trauma can also be experienced when children are faced with a caregiver who acts erratically, emotional and /or physical neglect, and exploitation” (Maltby, L., & Hall, T. 2012. p. 304). Trauma comes in many different forms including: war, rape, kidnapping, abuse, sudden injury, and

Trauma occurs when a child has experienced an event that threatens or causes harm to her emotional and physical well-being. Events can include war, terrorism, natural disasters, but the most common and harmful to a child’s psychosocial well-being are those such as domestic violence, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, maltreatment, and witnessing a traumatic event. While some children may experience a traumatic event and go on to develop normally, many children have long lasting implications into adulthood.

However, some may live their lives unaffected while others may unwillingly live the moment repeatedly throughout their life. Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk provides numerous examples of trauma, and its unfortunate influences on the human mind in The Body Keeps the Score. In most instances, people usually perceive the universal nature of trauma as uncommon due to the societally perpetuated stigma against trauma and its effects on the minds of

Its termed as an emotional aftermath because of major events such as war, rape, kidnapping, abuse or surviving a natural calamity that an individual directly experienced. Traumatic reactions are usually normal but in some instances, it can be severe whereby the individual experiences flashbacks, memory lapse, headaches or nausea (Levers, 2012). Medical professionals term

One of the themes that were observed after creating a genogram, and through discussion with my parents and grandmother was the known history of trauma that affected my family members. The trauma identified is generalized across the board from physical abuse, sexual abuse, loss of a significant other, war-related situations, etc. A few of my family members actually suffer from PTSD from war experiences specifically from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Vietnam. Through my recent discussions and interactions about trauma with others, I have found that some people would ultimately say that, for example, my father (Jason) did not experience trauma because his trauma is affiliated with the loss of his mother at a young age. However, the way in which my dad

Healing Behavioral and Biological Effects of Trauma Shenea O. Overstreet Silberman School of Social Work Part two of The Body Keeps the Score by Van der Kolk (2014), attempts to explain the effects of trauma on the physical brain, cognitive functioning, and bodily functions. Chapter four illustrates beautifully with diagrams, pictures, and anecdotal examples, how different areas of the brain are affected by traumatic experiences. Chapter five explores the physical signs of trauma in the body; it illustrates the mind in constant survival mode. Lastly, chapter six discusses the feelings of numbness and shame trauma survivors may have.

When working with clients in today’s society it’s extremely important to take into consideration the specific needs of each individual. Serious contemplation is given to the approaches and methods regarding the client’s need and presenting matters. Trauma appears in many forms in society, even from the 1960’s due to the impact on returning soldiers from war. Since this, trauma has been categorised and widely researched leading to numerous theories. Psychotherapies were one of the first approaches to be founded in the 1970’s, which were the foundations to counselling

When I decided to take the trauma course, I was hesitant at first to take it. I did not know what to expect nor felt I would be prepare listen to stories about traumatic occurrences, despite of the number of years I have worked in the field of community mental health. Therefore, now that we are in week eight, I am delighted to have taken this course. The impression I had at first, has changed my insight concerning what is trauma, as for many years, I did not understand why a person in many instances, could not process their trauma. In a quote by Chang stated, “The greater the doubt, the greater the awakening; the smaller the doubt, the smaller the awakening. No doubt, no awakening” (Van Der Kolk, 2014, p. 22). The goes in congruence with my understanding on trauma and how it has changed during this course. As a result, I feel I am awakening when acquiring more about trauma.

Judith Herman’s Trauma and Recovery was an amazing read because it tackles the question of “What does it actually mean to be traumatized?” Every single person, no matter how old, has experienced some level of fear— especially those of us who live in NYC! Whether it’s a yellow cab running a red light as you cross 56th Street, the aggressive homeless man on the 6 train who can’t accept the fact that you don’t have any spare change to give, or that time you decided to have street meat for dinner and were stuck on the toilet for the remainder of your night, we can all identify the ways in which our body responds to moments of distress. You may break out into a sprint, your heart beats against your chest as you sweat profusely, and you might even shed tears. In those moments, your entire existence becomes focused around the perceived life or death situation.

Loss of speech, sleeplessness, self-harms, nightmares, having suicidal thoughts or actions are some signs that indicate a child that has experienced a traumatic event. Trauma is a reflective emotion, triggered by how an individual /child may react to a frightening or shocking situation. It is defined by the reaction of the child to a specific event. However, trauma to one child may not be trauma to another. But the child that experiences this can be scared for a lifetime. This strain can begin as soon as birth is given to a child, throughout his /her eighteen (18) years of childhood. Nevertheless that child can have flashback of the event straight over into their adulthood depending on how they cope with the situation.