Understanding Traumatic Stress
What is Traumatic Stress?
Traumatic stress arises from experiencing or witnessing events involving severe
threats to life, injury, death, or sexual violence. The word "trauma" itself originates
from the Greek word for "wound." It's important to distinguish traumatic events from
mere crises, which are distressing but not life-threatening, such as divorce or failing
an exam.
Trauma is a subjective experience. The impact of an event can vary significantly
from person to person due to individual factors like personality, past experiences,
and cultural background.
Events That Can Cause Traumatic Stress (DSM-5
Criteria)
According to the DSM-5, traumatic events typically involve one or more of the
following:
● Direct Experience: Experiencing or witnessing actual or threatened
death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
● Witnessing: Observing these events happening to others.
● Learning About Events: Learning that such events occurred to close
family members or friends.
● Repeated Exposure: Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to
aversive details of traumatic events, often seen in first responders.
Examples of Traumatic Events:
● Hijacking
● Armed robbery
● Rape
● Combat
● Natural disasters
● Gang violence
Events Generally NOT Considered Traumatic (under these criteria):
, ● Watching traumatic events on television or social media.
● Non-life-threatening stressors.
Classes of Trauma Symptoms
Traumatic stress can manifest in several categories of symptoms:
Intrusion Symptoms
These are involuntary and distressing re-experiences of the traumatic event.
● Involuntary traumatic memories
● Nightmares related to the event
● Flashbacks (a dissociative experience where one feels as if the event is
happening again)
● Intense emotional or physical reactions when exposed to reminders of the
trauma
Avoidance Symptoms
This involves actively trying to steer clear of thoughts, feelings, or external reminders
associated with the traumatic event.
● Avoiding distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings about the event.
● Avoiding people, places, situations, or activities that remind one of the
trauma.
● Avoidance can paradoxically worsen symptoms over time.
Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood
These symptoms involve alterations in cognition and emotional state following the
trauma.
● Memory gaps concerning aspects of the traumatic event.
● Persistent negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world (e.g., "The
world is fundamentally unsafe").
● Excessive self-blame or blaming others for the trauma or its
consequences.
● Emotional numbness or a pervasive sense of detachment.
● Loss of interest or participation in previously enjoyed activities.
What is Traumatic Stress?
Traumatic stress arises from experiencing or witnessing events involving severe
threats to life, injury, death, or sexual violence. The word "trauma" itself originates
from the Greek word for "wound." It's important to distinguish traumatic events from
mere crises, which are distressing but not life-threatening, such as divorce or failing
an exam.
Trauma is a subjective experience. The impact of an event can vary significantly
from person to person due to individual factors like personality, past experiences,
and cultural background.
Events That Can Cause Traumatic Stress (DSM-5
Criteria)
According to the DSM-5, traumatic events typically involve one or more of the
following:
● Direct Experience: Experiencing or witnessing actual or threatened
death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
● Witnessing: Observing these events happening to others.
● Learning About Events: Learning that such events occurred to close
family members or friends.
● Repeated Exposure: Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to
aversive details of traumatic events, often seen in first responders.
Examples of Traumatic Events:
● Hijacking
● Armed robbery
● Rape
● Combat
● Natural disasters
● Gang violence
Events Generally NOT Considered Traumatic (under these criteria):
, ● Watching traumatic events on television or social media.
● Non-life-threatening stressors.
Classes of Trauma Symptoms
Traumatic stress can manifest in several categories of symptoms:
Intrusion Symptoms
These are involuntary and distressing re-experiences of the traumatic event.
● Involuntary traumatic memories
● Nightmares related to the event
● Flashbacks (a dissociative experience where one feels as if the event is
happening again)
● Intense emotional or physical reactions when exposed to reminders of the
trauma
Avoidance Symptoms
This involves actively trying to steer clear of thoughts, feelings, or external reminders
associated with the traumatic event.
● Avoiding distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings about the event.
● Avoiding people, places, situations, or activities that remind one of the
trauma.
● Avoidance can paradoxically worsen symptoms over time.
Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood
These symptoms involve alterations in cognition and emotional state following the
trauma.
● Memory gaps concerning aspects of the traumatic event.
● Persistent negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world (e.g., "The
world is fundamentally unsafe").
● Excessive self-blame or blaming others for the trauma or its
consequences.
● Emotional numbness or a pervasive sense of detachment.
● Loss of interest or participation in previously enjoyed activities.
