Trauma vs Traumatized
Dear Tacit,
Can you help me understand why some people get traumatized and others do not, by experiences that seem very similar?
Signed: Trauma vs Traumatized
Dear Trauma vs Traumatized,
There is a huge difference between experiencing a traumatic event and being traumatized by that event. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event becomes traumatized. People respond to trauma differently due to a combination of different factors. While one person may develop long-lasting effects from a traumatic experience, another may recover relatively quickly. Here’s why:
Personal Resilience – some individuals have a higher capacity to cope with stress and adversity, often due to inherent personality traits or learned coping skills. Emotional regulation, optimism, and problem-solving abilities can buffer the impact of traumatic events.
Support Systems – strong social support (family, friends, or community supports) can help people process and recover from trauma more effectively. Feeling validated and understood reduces the likelihood that a person will internalize the distress.
Nature of the Event – both the severity and the duration of the event matter. A single, less intense traumatic event is less likely to cause long-term effects than prolonged or repeated exposure. The proximity to the trauma (direct involvement vs. witnessing it) also plays a role.
Previous Experiences – a history of past trauma can make an individual more vulnerable to being traumatized by new events. But so too can overcoming past adversities help build resilience.
Age and Developmental Stage – children are more vulnerable to trauma due to their developing brains and limited coping mechanisms (adults often – but not always – have more tools to process trauma). But properly supported, they are also often the most resilient.
Perception of the Event – if the person feels they had some control over what happened during the traumatic event, they may recover more easily. Events perceived as unpredictable, uncontrollable, or intentionally caused by others are more likely to result in trauma.
Genetic and Biological Factors – some people may have a genetic predisposition that affects how their brain processes stress and fear. Variations in stress hormones, like cortisol, can impact a person’s resilience to trauma.
Access to Recovery Resources – early intervention (e.g., counselling, medical help) can significantly reduce the long-term impact of a traumatic event. Lack of access to support or ongoing stress (unstable environments or an unwillingness to allow support) can exacerbate the effects.
In some cases, individuals may experience a very positive end result (what is known as post-traumatic growth) after a traumatic experience – they emerge with new strengths, perspectives, or a greater appreciation for life. Their ability to adapt and find meaning in the experience helps prevent long-lasting trauma.
In general, trauma is an emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. It can have profound effects on a person’s mental, emotional, and even physical well-being, often leading to lasting changes in how they perceive and interact with the world.
When a person struggles with being traumatized after a difficult situation, they will often experience feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror. They may numb-out or detach emotionally from any of their feelings (positive or negative). They could also end up in a state of hypervigilance (high alert or sensitivity) or a constant feeling of being on edge. A traumatized person can sometimes experience flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares, stemming from the incident. They often have ongoing difficulties trusting others or forming relationships.
A traumatized person is likely to struggle with issues like fatigue, headaches, or muscle tension. They will probably have changes in their appetite or sleeping patterns. They will probably have difficulty managing other stresses in their lives. And they can develop a negative self-perception or feelings of shame and guilt about their overall situation.
A traumatized person may re-experience the trauma, find themselves avoiding certain triggers related to the trauma, and develop heightened arousal/emotional dysregulation. It’s very common for the person to start to develop other physical health illnesses (e.g., digestive issues, heart conditions) and longer-term psychological issues (e.g Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Complex PTSD) if their trauma is not addressed.
When a traumatic incident causes such damaging ripple effects in individuals, the brain changes. These changes can be short-lived or long-lasting, depending on the factors I have already mentioned. The amygdala (in the brain) becomes hyperactive, leading to increased fear and emotional reactivity. Over time, the hippocampus may shrink, impairing memory and the ability to distinguish between past and present threats. Left untreated, the prefrontal cortex starts to function less effectively, making it harder to regulate emotions and make rational decisions.
If a person is struggling in any way after a traumatic incident, it’s always a good idea to reach out for help (why wait until things get really bad?). Professional Support (therapy) can help – different modalities are exceptionally useful when addressing trauma-based needs (like cognitive-behavioral therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and EMDR). Neurofeedback Training is another terrific way to help the brain rebalance itself, without the need for the traditional “talking” that is a part of the therapy process. And there are many other things a person can do to help the body learn how to return to a healthy state of calm.
Take care!
Do you have a question you would like us to address? Please feel free to reach out to us at counsellors@tacitknows.com. Your answer will be provided confidentially.
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