Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTrauma SpectrumAcute TraumaChronic TraumaSymptomsTreatmentWhen to Talk to a Therapist
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Trauma Spectrum
Acute Trauma
Chronic Trauma
Symptoms
Treatment
When to Talk to a Therapist
Traumais defined as an emotional response to a terrible event.This emotional response may include denial, shock, anger, and fear.
Trauma can be acute or chronic, depending on the traumatic experience. A single, isolated event can lead to acute trauma, which may have both short-term and long-term consequences. Chronic trauma develops from repeated, prolonged traumatic events.
This article explores acute trauma and chronic trauma, including in children and teens. After discussing the symptoms of trauma, it outlines treatment options.
The Trauma Spectrum
People’s response to trauma exists on a spectrum. Not everyone who experiences the same traumatic event will have the same response. Some people may go on to be diagnosed withpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), while others may be affected but for shorter periods or at a clinically undiagnosable level.
Acute and chronic trauma are categorized according to the type of event a person has experienced. For example, an isolated incident such as a car accident is considered acute trauma, but continuing events such as domestic abuse can be considered chronic trauma. Complex trauma is a combination of both acute and chronic trauma, often occurring in childhood, that disrupts many aspects of development and one’s sense of self.
Trauma’s effects on the brain are complex and not fully understood. However, it is known that various biological changes can occur after a traumatic event that affects the body’s stress response and are associated with PTSD and other mental health conditions. Changes can be to limbic system functioning (behavioral and emotional responses), dysregulation of neurotransmitters that affect arousal (commonly known as the “fight-or-flight” response), and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) changes impacting cortisol (a stress hormone).
Studies on mass shootings, a type of acute trauma, have identified risk factors for adverse psychological effects. These risk factors include being female, being in close proximity to the event, experiencing greater psychological symptoms before the incident, and lacking psychological and social support resources.
Anywhere from 6%–33% of people who experienced trauma develop acute stress disorder (ASD) for the first month following the event.Most people with ASD go on to have PTSD in six months.ASD has the same symptoms as PTSD, but they get better within a month.
Causes
Examples of acute traumatic events include:
Chronic trauma refers to repeated, prolonged traumatic events. There is a large body of research on chronic trauma and its adverse health effects.
Studies show that children exposed to chronic trauma have a higher risk of mental health disorders, poor academic achievement, and becoming a juvenile offender.Mothers exposed to chronic war-related trauma have changes in their brain associated with showing empathy, possibly having implications for generational trauma.
Examples of chronically traumatic situations include:
What Is Complex Trauma?Complex trauma is exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive and interpersonal nature, such as abuse or profound neglect during childhood. This trauma can lead to wide-ranging and long-term effects.
What Is Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma is exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive and interpersonal nature, such as abuse or profound neglect during childhood. This trauma can lead to wide-ranging and long-term effects.
Symptoms of Trauma
Response to trauma is extremely varied among individuals. Most people exposed to trauma, acute or chronic, do not go on to be diagnosed with a mental health condition like PTSD.
Emotional Symptoms
Emotional symptoms of acute or chronic trauma can include:
Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms of acute and chronic trauma can include:
Trauma Symptoms in Children and Teens
It’s important to be aware that young people may respond differently to trauma than adults. Some symptoms of trauma in children and teens to be aware of include:
PTSD vs. TraumaBetween 1.9% and 8.8% of adults experience PTSD at some point in their life.It is difficult to predict who will develop PTSD and who will not. The number of repeated traumatic events a person experiences contributes to PTSD.
PTSD vs. Trauma
Between 1.9% and 8.8% of adults experience PTSD at some point in their life.It is difficult to predict who will develop PTSD and who will not. The number of repeated traumatic events a person experiences contributes to PTSD.
Treatment for Acute and Chronic Trauma
To respond to the initial response to trauma, try to find a safe environment where the person’s essential physical and emotional needs can be met. This might include relocating to a domestic violence shelter, moving into subsidized housing, or obtaining a restraining order.
Once the person’s basic needs are met and they are safe, they might benefit from treatment with a trained mental health professional who takes a trauma-informed approach.
Methods of therapy treatment include:
Brief eclectic psychotherapy and narrative therapy also are used.
Medication may be prescribed on an individual basis, particularly if there are any co-occurring mental health conditions.
There are also some recommended lifestyle changes to help cope with trauma. Some methods to help cope in the aftermath of acute or chronic trauma include:
Should I Try Brainspotting Therapy?
If your symptoms are prolonged, interfering with your daily life, or if you are having difficulty moving on with your life, then it may be time to talk to a psychologist or mental health professional.They can help you process your trauma and learn new ways of coping and managing your emotions.
Summary
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