Almost 70% of people would experience trauma in some point of their lives but not everyone who experienced it would develop trauma due to the stressful event. Incidents such as accidents, natural disasters are stressful events that might cause psychological trauma as a response to these events. People would then develop physical and emotional symptoms such as feeling overwhelmed, shocked or having difficulty to process such experience.
Types of Trauma
- Acute (single event)
- Chronic (repeated and prolonged exposure)
- Complex (exposure to multiple traumatic events)
Symptoms
Emotional
- Denial
- Anger
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Confusion
- Numbness
- Guilt
- Irritability
Some people might also have emotional outbursts and flashbacks and these are quite common. It is when they relive the traumatic event in their minds.
Physical
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sweaty
- Feeling jumpy
- Racing heart
Treatment
Therapy would be the first in line treatment for trauma where Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help people to change their thought patterns. Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and somatic therapy are also some treatment methods for trauma.
Following more stressors students feel in school, there are more cases of suicide and even shooting / assaults where other students are killed or harmed. These tragic incidents could leave trauma for other students and all these are preventable if everyone looks out for each other’s well-beings.
Self-care should also be taught and practiced. Some self-care techniques are:
- Exercising
- Mindfulness
- Connecting with others
- Balanced lifestyle
- Support system
It doesn’t have to look magical or pretty. Real healing is hard, exhausting, and draining. Let yourself go through it. Don’t try to paint it as anything other than what it is. Be there for yourself with no judgment.
Healing
It takes courage and bravery to reach out for help and it would be hard. But, I believe you have that strength in you to be better, and to feel better.
Corlissa Seah, Counsellor & Founder of Vibe Check Practice
Providing online therapy to support mental health and well-being
Book an appointment with us using this link!
Vibe Check Practice 
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