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Trauma is something I always assumed was reserved for veterans and members of the emergency response team. But over the last few years of my recovery, I’ve discovered that I too suffer trauma. These have influenced and even changed the way in which I think, act and feel on a daily basis. While some of these traumas have been explored in-depth, others haven’t even been touched upon. And even at that, it’s all too little and much later down the line than I would have liked.
It took participating in a course on trauma for me to comprehend the grand scale of the issue surrounding it. The first being its general understanding.
What is psychological trauma?
Psychological and emotional trauma manifests as a result of experiencing, witnessing, or even being informed of extremely stressful situations. This can include things such as abuse, neglect, injury, war, or bearing witness to a traumatic event experienced by others.
When we experience something traumatic, it often involves an imminent threat to life or safety. It can ultimately leave us feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and afraid. Although physical threats can often be involved, the event doesn’t necessarily have to involve physical harm in any way. In fact, it’s not the circumstances of an event that determine whether or not it was traumatic, but the experience of the event. This is usually considered subjective as not everyone experiencing the same event will react in the same way.
There are many different types of trauma that you should know about.
Psychological trauma can be experienced in many different ways, both directly and indirectly.
First and, possibly the most commonly known type of trauma, is that experienced first hand. Individuals might find themselves traumatised due to abuse, neglect or a serious injury. Although experiences can be a one off event, trauma can also stem from repeated exposure. A prime example of this would be seen in cases of repeated abuse and neglect wherein the exposure can be over a long period of time.
However, not all trauma has to necessarily be experienced by the individual. We can also become psychologically traumatised by bearing witness to a traumatic event or events. Although not necessarily involved, even simply acting as a by-stander can be enough to trigger an emotional response within the brain.
Vicarious trauma is quite similar to that mentioned above. This is when trauma occurs after learning about the experience of a loved one or a friend. Specifically if the outcome could have been fatal. Although we’re not directly involved or present for the event, our brain makes a connection and becomes traumatised by proxy. A perfect example of this could be the trauma experienced after losing a loved one in a fatal car accident. This could perhaps lead to a fear of driving completely, or it could mean avoiding a certain route.
Finally, we can experience psychological trauma from repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of an event. This could include exposure to details of war or horrific abuse. A prime example of this would be the repeated exposure of social workers to the horrific abuse of children or young people. However, it’s important to remember that this does not include exposure to images or information through the media, television, or pictures. The only exception to this would be in the case of first responders.
What conditions are needed for trauma to occur?
While some of the causes of psychological trauma can be obvious, it’s often a personal matter. What causes trauma for one person might not necessarily cause it for another, and it’s important to remember that although you might not understand someone’s reaction, doesn’t mean it’s not a valid experience.
The conditions needed for psychological trauma to occur can vary from person to person. These are just some examples and are not an exhaustive list.
- A single traumatic event such as an accident, severe injury, an interpersonal violation, especially at the hands of an authority figure, or an attack. The latter can be particularly traumatic if it was violent and unexpected. Such occurrences can be made worse if experienced during childhood or adolescence when the brain is still in the early stages of development.
- Trauma can also stem from ongoing, relentless stress. Examples of this could be living in a dangerous area wherein you may constantly feel like your life is under threat. One might also experience trauma when battling a life threatening illness such as cancer. Finally, trauma can manifest if exposed to repeated unpleasant events such as bullying, domestic violence, neglect or even workplace stressors.
- There are also various causes of trauma which can often be overlooked such as surgery, child-birth, the loss of a loved one (particularly if drawn out), or experiencing a romantic breakup.
As with any illness, both mental and physical, everyone experiences trauma differently. Some may have a higher level of resilience to others and therefore may be able to cope better with certain events. It is extremely common to experience trauma as a response to betrayal by someone the sufferer trusts. This is often prolonged, repeated, and intentional and could be considered one of the most harmful types of trauma. Prime examples of this would be sexual abuse at the hands of a parent or guardian or even repeated physical violence at the hands of someone the sufferer is close to.
“Finding Frank” by Rachel Townsend
A story of finding love in the ruins of an abusive childhood and trauma.
Not all trauma or experiences of trauma are the same. For some of us, the trauma may have been emotional and psychological. While for others it shone through in cuts and bruises on our skin. It’s important to remember that not everyone’s trauma is going to be immediately obvious. Even now I’m still discovering parts of myself damaged by trauma. Things I took to be normal are, in fact, a response to a traumatic environment and those are things I will continually need to look out for.
About the book.
Finding Frank is a candid and honest account of childhood trauma in every form. Rachel Townsend bravely details her early years at the hands of an argumentative and angry mother. While her father tried his best, moving them to various countries to try and appease his wife, their mother continued her violence and abuse. No matter the circumstance, no matter the place, their mother continued her abusive rampage.
But circumstances changed when, at eleven years old, Rachel and her siblings were sent to a boarding school in England. Finally, they escaped the clutches of their abusive household. While the thought of boarding school might bring feelings of fear and distrain for some, Rachel was far from unhappy with the notion. Instead, she was ecstatic!
It was during the school holidays in Bahrain that Rachel met Frank. Her father worked quite often, so he kept the children entertained by buying them a Dilmun Club membership. It was here that Rachel first laid eyes upon him.
“When he finally walks in, my heart does a somersault.”
They spent quite a lot of time together, and Rachel was falling head over heels. Above all else, she was happy. That is until her mother made the trip to Bahrain, and immediately things changed. Instead of spending time at the club with Frank, Rachel and her siblings were expected to go on family outings with their abusive mother. Before leaving for Barbados with her family, Rachel receives a letter from Frank. It was then that she discovered her feelings for him were mutual.
I found myself empathizing with Rachel throughout the novel. Her experiences, although different, reminded me of my own childhood. There were various points where I just wanted to give her the biggest hug and to comfort her as if she were a friend. This book is certainly an eye-opening account of how, despite knowing nothing but anger and pain, there is the potential for love.
What’s your experience with trauma?
Have you had similar thoughts in regards to trauma? Looking back over your life and experiences, can you pinpoint any traumatic moments? How have you coped in these moments and the years following?
