Understanding Trauma and Loss

Trauma can be seen as a sudden, unexpected, severe event that is life or sanity-threatening (to self or other/s), it overwhelms the usual coping capacity. It can be caused by an actual or perceived event or it can be ongoing, chronic (e.g. abuse).
 

Examples of Trauma and Loss

• Death of a loved one,

• Hi-jacking

• House breaking

• Rape

• Accidents

• Loss of health/limbs

• Loss of income

Typical trauma symptoms

Changed Sleep and Eating patterns, Chronic tiredness, Skin rashes or outbreaks, Hair loss , Lowered immune system (prone to illness), Anxiety, Easily startled , Hyper-vigilance, Suspiciousness, Tearfulness, Sadness, Anger, Dissociation (emotional blunting), attempts to avoid thoughts, People, places associated with the trauma, Denial, Reduced concentration and focus, Mistakes, errors of judgement, Forgetfulness, memory/recall problems, Flashbacks - re-experiencing the event, Risk-aversion (reduced creativity, immobility) Depressed thinking (negative, pessimistic).
 

Trauma impacts relationships

• Projected anger (verbal / physical abuse)

• Loss of boundary control (inappropriate behaviours)

• Generalised anxiety (mistrust, suspicion)

• Alienation (social isolation or discomfort)

• Compulsive, repetitive talking (can lead to irritation)

• Sexuality (reduced or acted out e.g. affairs)

• Impact of depressed, anxious post-trauma spouse/partner/colleague
  

Trauma impacts on life view

• Changes ideas about life, world, people

• Review of spiritual beliefs, values, choices

• Desire to be with family, friends

• Foreshortened sense of future

• Changed priorities – work-family, career
  

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Recognised medical condition

• Classified an Anxiety Disorder

• A syndrome or cluster of observable symptoms or behaviours following exposure to trauma
  

Who is affected by PTSD?

• The traumatised person

• People who care about him/her

• Those who want or need him/her to function effectively (employers, family)

• People in person’s environment

Trauma debriefing and Trauma counselling

Trauma debriefing and trauma counselling is done by qualified professionals (Social workers, Psychologists, Health practitioners ).

Trauma debriefing must ideally be done 48-72 hours after the incident. After this period has lapsed we refer to the intervention as Trauma counselling.
 

Benefits of Trauma debriefing and Trauma counselling

Trauma debriefing and Trauma counselling promotes healing and recovering after the trauma, it provides containment, emotional support  and usually  diminishes the symptoms of trauma.  It provides the victim/s with the opportunity to express and process difficult feelings (vs acting them out).

Furthermore it reduces risk of :

• Depression, anxiety disorders

• Medical illness

• Impaired social relationships

• Social isolation or acting out

• Addictive behaviours

• Suicide

• Violence

Recovery from trauma

• Recovery is gradual, can be inferred:

• Reduced trauma symptoms

• Growing sense of self-mastery

• More stable moods

• Recovery of realistic sense of self/others

• Increased motivation, libido, energy

• For many, spiritual & personal growth and a heightened appreciation of life