Defining trauma

Defining trauma

Jacqueline Elster

What is trauma?

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), the book used by medical professionals, including mental health providers, to diagnose mental health issues, defines trauma as “exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.” Others have defined trauma as a deeply distressing or upsetting experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope.

Trauma can be experienced directly or witnessed as it happens to others. Many individuals are traumatized when they learn about a traumatic event affecting a close family member or friend. Similarly, repeated exposure to aversive details of traumatic events, such as in the case of child welfare workers repeatedly hearing about details of child abuse.

Examples of trauma include but are not limited to the following:

  • Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tidal waves

  • Childhood physical abuse

  • Childhood sexual abuse

  • Childhood neglect

  • Bullying

  • Fire or explosions

  • Motor vehicle accidents

  • Transportation accidents such as a train wreck, plane crash or boat accident

  • Physical assault, ex., being “jumped”, hit, kicked, beaten or choked

  • Assault with a weapon including being threatened with a knife or firearm

  • Sexual assault including rape, attempted rape, being forced to perform any sexual act through force or threat of harm to self or others

  • Combat

  • Kidnapping

  • Abduction

  • Being held hostage

  • Being a prisoner of war

  • Life threatening illness or injury

  • Sudden violent death such as homicide or suicide

  • Childbirth trauma such as birth injuries to the baby or pregnant person, birth complications

  • Pregnancy loss such as miscarriage or stillbirth

  • Death of a child

  • Domestic violence

Individuals who witnessed domestic violence as children often demonstrate that they too have a trauma reaction. That is because witnessing domestic violence has the same psychological impact as being a victim of domestic violence. The same often occurs with attempted rape, which has the same psychological impact as a “completed” rape.

Also, many people may feel distressed or traumatized even though they were not physically injured. For instance, frequently students feel scared after a school shooting, even if they and their classmates were unharmed. It is both normal and common to have strong emotional reactions following a traumatic event.

It is important to acknowledge that the DSM has its limitations. According to its definition of trauma, solitary confinement is not classified as trauma since it does not involve exposure to death, injury or sexual violence. However, many individuals who have experienced captivity and prolonged isolated from others perceive these experiences as deeply traumatizing.

Treatment

Fortunately, there are several highly effective treatments available for individuals who have experienced trauma. At Gabriel Counseling Services, our clinicians are trained in a number of evidenced based therapies for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for trauma (ACT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Each of these approaches is has a large breadth of research demonstrating their effectiveness in both teenagers and adults.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment, contact us today.

Island of Safety

Island of Safety