Psychological trauma, also known as mental trauma or emotional damage, is an emotional response triggered by severe distressing events. These events can include bodily injury, sexual violence, or other threats to an individual's life or the lives of their loved ones. While indirect exposure, such as watching distressing news, can cause an overwhelming physiological stress response, it doesn't always lead to trauma. Examples of events that can cause psychological
trauma include exposure to violence, sexual assault, childhood abuse, the death of a loved one, or mass casualty events like terrorist attacks or natural disasters. The effects of trauma are profound and long-lasting, impacting both the mind and the body.
Shattered Assumptions and Neurophysiological Changes
One prominent theoretical model for understanding psychological trauma is the shattered assumptions theory. This theory posits that people generally hold three fundamental assumptions about the world: that it is benevolent, meaningful, and that they themselves are worthy. These assumptions are built and reinforced over years of experience. However, extreme traumatic events can "shatter" these worldviews, severely challenging and breaking these core beliefs about the world and oneself. After such an experience, individuals must create new assumptions or modify their old ones to recover. The negative effects of trauma are thus linked to these disrupted worldviews, and repairing them is crucial for recovery.
Trauma doesn't just affect one's beliefs; it also leads to significant neurophysiological changes. Exposure to and re-experiencing trauma can cause slowed myelination, abnormalities in synaptic pruning, and shrinking of the hippocampus. These changes can result in cognitive and affective impairment. Studies examining the brain activity of traumatized individuals have shown differences compared to non-traumatized individuals. For instance, in traumatized individuals, only the posterior cingulate cortex of their brains might light up when asked to think about nothing, indicating limited self-awareness, whereas "normal" individuals show activity in multiple brain regions. Persistent trauma or even the thought of it can inundate a person's neurological system, limiting their ability to integrate sensory perceptions and be fully aware internally and externally.
Manifestations and Coping Strategies
People who experience trauma often face ongoing problems and difficulties. The severity of these symptoms depends on factors like the individual's formative years, the type of trauma, and the support and treatment received. Reactions can vary widely, but common manifestations include re-experiencing the trauma mentally and physically. A benign stimulus, like the sound of a motorcycle, can become a "trauma reminder" or "trigger" if it was associated with the traumatic event, leading to intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or a sense of re-experiencing the event. These triggers can cause uncomfortable and painful feelings, damaging a person's sense of safety, self-efficacy, and ability to regulate emotions.
Flashbacks are dissociative experiences where the person feels as though the traumatic events are reoccurring, ranging from distraction to a complete loss of awareness of the current context. Insomnia, intense anger, upsetting memories, and nightmares are also common. Psychological trauma can also lead to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), characterized by intrusive memories, flashbacks, and strong physical or emotional reactions to reminders of the event. However, not all trauma sufferers develop PTSD; only about 6% of individuals who experience trauma develop the disorder.
Individuals employ various coping mechanisms to relieve psychological distress following trauma. These can be broadly categorized into problem-focused, emotion-focused, meaning-focused, and social support. Problem-focused coping addresses the issue causing stress, while emotion-focused coping encourages viewing the issue positively. Meaning-focused coping involves finding a silver lining by applying personal values, and social support relies on family and peers. Coping mechanisms can be adaptive (healthy) or maladaptive (unhealthy). Adaptive strategies include positive thinking, seeking support, and accepting what happened. Maladaptive strategies, such as substance abuse, self-blame, or dangerous risk-taking, can worsen psychological discomfort. Therefore, positive adaptive coping mechanisms are often taught during treatment for psychological trauma to help individuals navigate their healing journey.
