Some people may need a combination of both therapy and medication. PTSD often manifests itself in the form of anxiety or depression, and medication is often prescribed to help alleviate these symptoms, though it does not cure PTSD. The premise of CBT is to change how a person thinks about a certain situation in order to alter their emotions and behavior. Therapy and Medication of Trauma SignsĬurrently, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective way to treat PTSD as a result of severe trauma. Two people who have experienced the same trauma may need different types of treatment to cope with it.

Treating someone who has experienced a life changing event looks different in everyone, and the treatment process should be based on one’s individual needs. This can be found in family members of a person who has experienced a traumatic event and even in mental health professionals who are counseling those who have experienced trauma. Vicarious Trauma SignĪlso known as secondary trauma, this type describes a person developing symptoms of trauma when someone close to them has experienced a traumatic event, even though they have not suffered this trauma themselves. An example of this could be a child experiencing bullying at school while also witnessing domestic violence at home. It is a combination of different types of terrible events all happening to one person. Unfortunately, abuse involving children is one of the most common types of abuse because children often don’t have the vocabulary to speak up, and it can also happen in the most unlikely of places and be at the hands of someone the child trusts. Abuse (and neglect) is the most common type of chronic trauma, as it tends to occur over a long period of time, often going unnoticed by others. While acute trauma results from a devastating, usually one time event, chronic trauma is a devastating event that happens repeatedly over a period of time. Acute trauma generally lasts for a short period of time and those who have suffered from it can overcome it, but it can also lead to PTSD in others. Other events such as car accidents, house fires, and even a home invasion can cause acute trauma.

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes can cause acute trauma. This type of trauma usually occurs after a dangerous event. There are three main types of trauma, with a fourth type that can also be identified. While the emotional responses can be any of these: The physical responses to trauma may present themselves as: Several things can contribute to how trauma looks in an individual, such as the type of trauma and the characteristics of the person (including previous trauma or preexisting mental health issues). Symptoms of TraumaĪs mentioned earlier, trauma can look different in every individual and its severity can be mild to extreme. Some people may not develop trauma signs that emerge after a devastating event, some may have symptoms that go away after a while, and still, others may have long lasting effects (also known as PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder). There are three main types of trauma and they can look different in every person. Trauma is the emotional response to events that cause a high level of stress.

Symptoms of trauma