TRAUMA
What is trauma?
A trauma is an exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. For example, traumatic events may include serious car accidents, physical or sexual assault, combat, the sudden and unexpected death of a loved one, torture, intensive medical procedures, or abuse, including childhood or domestic abuse.
Trauma can range from a single trauma exposure to chronic, repeated exposures to traumatic events. Trauma can result in distressing changes in mood, thoughts, and behavior and may result in psychological disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What are stressors?
A stressor is an event or situation that causes stress. Stressors can range from annoying everyday hassles to events are perceived as very dangerous.
When one encounters stressors, the body’s stress response is triggered, and a series of physiological changes take place to allow the person to activate the “fight or flight” nervous system.
Over time, stress can have a negative effect on our bodies both physically and psychologically.
Some stressors can be seen as traumatic events. Even stressors that are not necessarily traumas can cause a great deal of distress and difficulty in our lives.
Examples of common stressors include financial problems, interpersonal difficulties, work demands, life events, pregnancy, injury, deadlines, competition, etc.
What are different types of trauma and stressor-related disorders?
The following diagnoses fall under the category of Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5)
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorders
- Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder
- Unspecified Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder
How are trauma disorders diagnosed and treated?
Psychologists and other mental health professionals can diagnose PTSD and other trauma disorders by:
- Doing a psychological evaluation that includes a discussion of your signs and symptoms and the event or events that led up to them
- Using the DSM-5 to identify whether your symptoms meet criteria for a specific disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder treatment can help you regain a sense of control over your life. The primary treatment is psychotherapy, but can also include medication.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET) are all specific types of cognitive behavioral therapy that have been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD that have developed after experiencing a variety of traumatic events.
CPT helps patients learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. In so doing, the patient creates a new understanding and conceptualization of the traumatic event so that it reduces its ongoing negative effects on everyday functioning.
PE helps patients to re-engage with their lives by teaching them to gradually approach their trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations. By doing so, the patient learns that trauma-related memories and cues are not dangerous, leading to less avoidance. WET treats symptoms of PTSD by having patients write about their traumas in a systematic way.
If you are interested in receiving services for adjustment to trauma or different stressors, please contact us to schedule an appointment with an expert.
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