Experiencing distressing, stressful or frightening events is sometimes referred to as emotional or psychological trauma. Traumatic events can happen at any time and have lasting effects that may not become apparent until much later.
Examples of traumatic experiences
We all experience events differently, so mental trauma is deeply personal. Trauma may relate to events when you felt abandoned, scared, powerless, humiliated, threatened, unsafe, or ashamed.
Similarly, trauma can occur as a result of a one-off or a series of ongoing events, being witness to someone else experiencing harm or being harmed yourself, and by experiencing the effects of a traumatic community or family situation. Trauma can also relate to a part of your identity and can occur if you have been bullied, discriminated against, or harassed.
Can trauma lead to mental health problems?
Trauma can cause or make you more vulnerable to experiencing mental health problems. There are also mental health conditions that can develop as a direct result of experiencing trauma, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
Other common effects of trauma include flashbacks, which can cause you to relive parts of a traumatic event and leave you feeling as though the event is occurring right now. This Mind article contains more information about flashbacks and their link to PTSD.
What is trauma informed practice training?
Many individuals who have experienced mental trauma wish there was greater awareness surrounding trauma and the ways it can impact a person’s behaviours and thought processes.
Courses offering trauma informed practice training are designed to equip you with the skills to recognise the signs of trauma and respond sensitively to the needs of the individuals within your care.
This strengths-based approach covers the impact that trauma can have and emphasises the importance of creating a sense of emotional, physical and psychological safety for everyone.
