What are traumas

Traumas are psychological damage caused by various factors. Environmental, social and family factors are some of these possibilities. In this way, it is understood as traumas, any distressing, morbid or overly negative event that can happen to various beings.

They are usually associated with the events that we do not have control of an unexpected situation. Our mind does not work well with very unexpected events. However, not everything can be considered trauma. Other psychological problems can happen and be mistaken for trauma.

Negative events people always go through, but some exceed the limits of what the psychological can handle, and destroy the natural mental protection that they have. It is important to know how to deal with these traumas so that it is not an inhibitor, but a new possibility for those who went through this difficult event.

Meaning of trauma

The literal meaning of trauma is: lesion in a place caused by an external agent. There are other definitions, as we will see below, but it is within this main meaning that the idea of the word trauma lives.

Definition of trauma

Another definition of trauma is its aspect of aggression or excessively violent experience. The definition of trauma, from the Greek traûma/-atos; is defined as wound, damage, breakdown.

Some types of traumas can continue for the rest of your life, others can be re-signified. It is difficult to find a cure, but it is possible to find appeasement, continuous improvement and re-signification through indicated therapies or by specialists in the area of psychology or psychiatry.

As you can see, the word trauma has applicability not only the physical part, but also the psychological. Even if it is not possible to see the psychological trauma, but its effects. And it is from these results that the whole process of change takes place.

Physical trauma

Anything that attacks the physical part, that is, coming from outside the body and not from the body itself, is considered a trauma. They can be produced by wounds, injuries, due to direct or indirect violent action, chemical or physical accidents. It is said that physical traumas are responsible for 3.2 million deaths and more than 312 million casualties per year worldwide.

It is reflected and analyzed that: more than half of the traumas can be prevented, and because of that, avoided when their respective prevention process is done. An example of this is the use of helmets for motorcyclists and cars equipped with air cushions.

Psychological trauma

Psychological trauma happens when something out of the ordinary causes a negative impact on people's mind. These traumas can vary in terms of their severity. It depends on several factors on how the person can cope with such events. Psychological traumas are discussed much more frequently as they have become more evident because of the increasing development of studies in thisarea.

Also called traumatic event, traumas are assumed as immense emotional pain and can be caused by several factors, making its prevention difficult. Certain traumas can seriously affect, inhibiting behaviors or developing unhealthy behaviors.

There are several treatments in which people can seek after an event like this. Without a doubt, it is important to seek specialists when experiencing upheaval.

Trauma and traumatic event

Trauma is the effect of something unwanted that has occurred to a being, whether expected or unexpected. Whether expected or not, the mental part may not be able to take the impact of the event. Therefore, trauma is increasingly reflecting the way society behaves. And there is frequent research regarding the quality of life that is restored after atreatment.

It is important to think about how to reestablish the usual pattern, since without a perfect mind to execute works and tasks it will be impossible to have quality of life. The traumatic event, on the other hand, is the event that causes the person to have the trauma. It is put that people try to avoid correctly or incorrectly everything that can generate a similar event, and that is where the problem lies.

How trauma happens

Trauma happens unexpectedly, every day, to people all over the world. Circumstances and situations vary, and treatments can be more or less complex depending on how the person reacts. To get an idea, people may begin to react in different ways to small objects or things, simply because that was at the time of the event.

Because it is unexpected, trauma tends to be a problem increasingly common to all people. Since most of them do not have a school or education to know how to deal with something like this. The world is still in its infancy when it comes to preventing possible traumas.

Traumas and phobias

The relationship between traumas and phobias is close and can be very closely linked to each other. Phobias are developed when there is an unbridled fear about a possible event, even if it has never existed or been felt by the person. Traumas can easily generate phobias.

It is important for the specialist to analyze the whole context of the situation in which the patient was placed. The family environment, excessive negative thought patterns about something and past situations; can trigger the phobia. The phobic state is very unwanted and the person can suffer greatly from this situation.

Childhood traumas

Childhood traumas can generate a snowball, both in relation to the fear they provoke as well as the repetition of the act, but now not as a victim but as the one responsible for the trauma. It is important that parents are prepared for all situations that can occur during the childhood of their children.

It is a time when memorization is in full swing, and because of this it can make children more susceptible to trauma. Some signs that can serve as a warning to parents: appetite changes, problems at school, lack of concentration, aggressiveness.

Surgeries or diseases

Surgeries and illnesses can generate psychological traumas as well. The events and times when these possibilities happen is what saddens the patient the most. And these traumas can happen in childhood, however, it is possible that the level of stress caused by this will only be felt in adulthood.

Accidents

Accidents can have a negative impact on both the physical and psychological parts of a person's life. They are events that can incapacitate victims in many possible ways. It is important for people who have suffered this process to undergo a gradual mental recovery.

Thus, the problem will be resolved gradually without putting the patient in unnecessary psychological risks. These traumas are also called post-accident trauma.

They arouse a feeling of fear and despair when faced with the same or similar situation. It is important that the patient undergoes an evaluation by a specialist before returning to the environment where the accident occurred.

Bullying

Bullying is a problem that has been around for decades, but people often don't know how to handle or avoid the problems it causes. A child certainly won't be able to handle the problem he or she has been targeted with. In contrast, adults and professionals at school need to be aware of the child's possible behaviors.

One of the ways to reduce the problems caused by bullying is to mold the child so that he can develop a critical sense when facing such a situation, and because of that, he can understand that unwanted moments like this can happen to anyone.

One example: helping classmates who are experiencing this and notifying parents and teachers of occurrences.

Separation

Another recurrent theme in life is the separation between couples and the negative effects caused to the child. The separation itself already causes several traumas and somatic thoughts to adults. Therefore, it is important to keep this problem as far away from the children as possible. Above all, parents need to consider the feelings of their children in this unwanted moment.

As a result, they will decrease the possibilities of possible conflicts that this child may have during their childhood. See what a child may suffer during a separation, taking into consideration that they may carry these disorders for their entire life:

Anxiety;

Depression;

Attention deficit disorder.

Disasters

Disasters always cause upheaval for everyone involved, so regardless of age, individuals can experience a variety of psychological problems. In the case of children, they may want to avoid places similar to the disaster. In this way, they may carry the trauma into adulthood

It is important that the child affected by the disaster receive specialized care. While receiving attention from family members, treatment needs to be part of the child's routine. Disasters cause loss, despair and terror. Because of this, there are post-traumatic effects that need to be treated with great care.

Psychological abuse

It is considered psychological abuse anything that makes the victim question their own sanity and intelligence. Examples include: making up lies, forcing the other to lie, distorting information, shouting and offending to get what they want.

Children are very susceptible to this type of abuse, and this is one of the most common problems they can go through. What is not so common is to seek help as soon as possible, especially in the case of children. It is likely that this abuse happens from their own family members, which is an aggravating factor. Some problems presented by those who suffer psychological abuse: mental confusion and self-esteemlow.

Physical abuse

Violence against children and adolescents perpetrated by parents or caregivers is a highly prevalent phenomenon in several countries, including Brazil. In this context, physical abuse stands out because of its visibility, considered the most evident form of child maltreatment due to the likelihood of resulting in physical marks or injuries that sometimes constitute a medical emergencysocial, with high psychological impact (Sacroisky, 2003).

Child physical abuse is anything that results in bodily harm that is evident or not evident to the naked eye. Therefore, it is important for parents to notice if there is something different in their child's behavior. Physical abuse often leads to psychological problems.

Therefore, it is not uncommon to notice children more inhibited or more aggressive after these physical traumas. Without a doubt, physical traumas are a risk factor for psychological traumas. When the aggressions come from the family itself, it becomes a little more difficult for the child to get out of the situation, which aggravates the psychological traumas even more.

Sexual abuse

Sexual violence against children is a frequently reported and recalled issue.

In order to reduce the number of cases, it is important to educate people on how to deal with this situation. Sexual abuse can cause a child to experience depression, behavioral disorders, and fear.

If you witness or notice abuse being committed, it is imperative that you seek out the proper authorities. When this occurs, it is permissible for guardians to monitor the child's behavior. In this way, you can avoid many other disturbances. Therefore, care from a specialist is essential after abuse of this type.

Negligence

The lack of essential care for children can be characterized as child neglect. Therefore, it is important to have family planning in order to create a healthy environment for the child's development. One of the main causes of child neglect are the parents themselves.

As a result, various psychological problems can affect the child. Some ways to identify if a child is being a victim of neglect: they may exhibit physical and psychological fatigue, fear, hunger, lack of hygiene. It is also likely that the parents have drug problems, poverty, mental disorders, abusers.

Abandonment within the home

Leaving home without giving any assistance to the family is considered abandonment. Leaving without leaving things in order, without giving any news is the most common type of abandonment. Children who suffer this type of abandonment tend to present psychological problems, because it is a kind of trauma.

It is a serious negligence that affects the mental health of everyone involved. Therefore, if a child is placed in a situation like this, he or she should have the support of psychologists. This way, there will be a decrease in problems for the victim in the future.

According to psychoanalyst John Bowlby (1907-1990), the absence of paternal or maternal care; leads to feelings of anger, sadness and distress.

Domestic violence

With the quarantine, the number of cases of domestic violence has increased. Therefore, the most vulnerable part like children and women need special attention at this time. Domestic violence can be physical or psychological. Therefore, those who suffer from this kind of problem will need help as soon as possible.

Intensified family conflicts, tendency to be violent are one of the main causes of domestic violence. Children who witness or suffer any kind of domestic violence may present serious behavioral problems. It is important that after these episodes, the child is treated with the support of specialists. In this way, it will appease possible problems in the future.

Community violence

Community violence is understood as any violent attitude perpetrated by people living in the same territory, but not in the same house. The traumas associated with community violence can affect children in a broad and continuous way. Since violence in general seems to be trivialized, the number of psychological problems linked to it is increasing.

It is important that research into the consequences of this type of violence be conducted on an ongoing basis so that preventative programs can be created. It is inevitable that "violence begets violence", the best way to avoid this is with prevention and education about what is happening in a given community. Also, how a child can act and prevent themselves in cases of conflict.

Drug abuse

Many children are taken to shelters because their parents do not have the psychological conditions to take care of themselves and their children. One of the biggest factors for this to happen is drug abuse of all kinds. Usually, the recovery of these children begins by taking them out of this risky environment to be adopted.

So, it's a lot of complicated transitions. Until they can adapt, it will be a challenge for the new parents and carers. Of course, often the child may not receive care from public services, and this can make the situation worse. In this case, they will need to rely on the help of anonymous reporting.

Mental illness

The mental illness that a child's carers may have tends to affect the child summarily. When there is no possibility of the child continuing with their biological family they are moved to shelters, but this is not an easy transition.

When the child is mentally ill, he or she may suffer a variety of abuses, both from those responsible and at school. The most common abuses are neglect and bullying. Early childhood, which lasts until the age of six, is an extremely important period for the psychological development of the child. It is from then on that lifelong traumas arise.

Terrorism

A child's sense of insecurity after a terrorist attack can last for many years. Expert support can be crucial to keeping them in a healthy frame of mind until the memories have worn off. Terrorism breeds destruction. Destruction leads to economic problems. And financial problems can leave room for thousands of traumas.

This is where the most difficult part of treating the subject comes in. If this wave of violence happened once or a few times in a place, then the intervention of psychiatric specialists will be more fruitful. It is important that the family knows how to work on the child's mind to be able to adapt in moments of continuous tension.

Refugee

Refugee children suffer from cultural differences. After going through all the hardships that wars and terrorism put them through, they still have to adapt in a very different territory. It is important that countries have policies that bring refugee children closer to the local culture. This will make it easier for them to adapt.

Many children suffer from malnutrition, violence and neglect during these changes of countries. The accompaniment of professionals in the area is crucial for them to return to mental and physical balance.

The longer a child goes through stressful moments, the more likely these traumas will follow them throughout their lives. Therefore, recovery work must be continuous until they adapt.

Common traumas in adulthood

When people reach adulthood they may not be prepared for what they will face on a daily basis. Traumatic events can happen to anyone, regardless of race, political choices, or religion. Learn about the main traumas that can occur during adulthood.

Assaults

Robbery is a problem that afflicts every part of the world. In big cities, it has become a huge problem, especially as we enter the new millennium. No doubt, problems related to robbery have few practical solutions. However, should you experience such a situation, it is important not to react and to maintain the coolness that the moment demands.

After registering the procedures of the police report, try to understand how you are behaving. If you are very insecure, it is a good idea to seek a psychologist to help you get rid of this discomfort. During this stage, it is important that you take some precautions such as: not going to streets with little movement, not taking too many material goods.

Accidents

Accidents are among the most traumatic events for adults. Adults are more exposed to dangerous occurrences. Whether at work or at home, travel, and all the freedom that adults have, there is an increased chance that something out of the ordinary will happen.

In the case of accidents, depending on the severity, can cause psychological disorders. And they are numerous, from depression to anxiety. Therefore, it is interesting to seek help in every possible way to break some barriers that psychological trauma caused by accidents cause. Besides going to a specialized psychologist, you can meditate, create healthier routines, exercise.

Sexual violence

Sexual violence can also affect adults. It is one of the main cases of abuse that causes trauma. Medical follow-up is essential for those who go through situations like this. It can last years until full recovery. Some psychiatric problems caused by sexual abuse in adults: avoid physical contact, lack of trust in people, sexual dysfunctions.

It is essential for those who have experienced this to try to rationalize the feelings they are feeling, so they will be able to separate the trauma from the individual's current reality. Avoiding the tendency to isolate and seeking support groups for victims of this type of abuse can create a more dynamic outlook on the subject.

Drastic changes

Drastic changes are problems that may not be easily overcome. Many people cannot overcome the challenges that life imposes unexpectedly. It is important to develop a sense of adaptability to be able to cope with the frantic changes that life demands.

One drastic change that can happen to anyone is: financial losses. This can affect the life of a family. And if they don't have support from each other, it can make the problem difficult to deal with. Another very common problem: moving city or even country. Not being able to adapt to the climate, culture can cause several psychological disorders to individuals.

Abortion

The sequels left by abortion, whether spontaneous or not, tend to leave marks for quite some time in the woman. Not only that, there are abortions in which the parents diverge and this can cause psychological problems in both. According to Febrasco, there is an average of 800 thousand abortions in Brazil per year.

It is good to remember that all these abortions are clandestine. In some cases it is possible to ask for support from the public system. Abortion can have devastating effects on a woman's mind, such as depression and bipolar disorder. In contrast, specialists in the area of psychiatry will be of great help to women who are thinking of having an abortion or are considering one.

Ending a relationship

The end of a relationship can have a devastating effect on the minds of those involved. Like most relationships, there is emotional and financial dependency. And both of these things have their due importance, because the obstacles and challenges overcome during their life together create bonds too strong to be broken.

Every relationship ending needs special attention. You may need help from a specialist in the area, and this can be very helpful in the challenge of new life. Feelings are not easy to break, but for your life to continue as normal, you need to understand that it is a transitory moment, and that everything will fall into place at the right time.

Loss of loved ones

The loss of loved ones is a sad situation and can lead to psychological trauma, especially if it is something abrupt or in which the loved one has experienced suffering.

In this case, the support of family and friends is necessary. Then, if there is any problem later, it is natural that the person seeks psychological counseling. In fact, one can say that it is a time that only your emotions and feelings will tell you how to act.

Of course, the mind will try to re-signify that so that it overcomes more and more as time goes by. Because of this, it is necessary to give time to time until there is a full recovery.

Symptoms of psychological trauma

Many people may not understand that they can be in a cycle of trauma-generated thoughts. There are several symptoms that can be caused by traumas. In this topic, symptoms such as sadness and feelings of guilt, anxiety, recurring nightmares will be addressed.

Constant reminder

Having negative memories on a constant basis is a sign of how your mind is not prepared to deal with a certain negative occurrence in your life.

This is a common symptom within this set of psychological traumas. It is difficult to solve in the short term, but it can be appeased as treatment with a professional is approached. The best way to continue the process of logical and calm thinking is to be exposed to the treatments that the professional of the area requests.

Remember to ask for help if these memories are bothering you every day. And even if they return after treatment, there is nothing to stop you from seeking further treatment until the issue is resolved.

Recurring nightmares

Sleep is one of the main activities that the body needs to replenish its energy. Without it, it is impossible to have a quality life. Recurring nightmares can be a sign of traumas that have not been overcome. If they are bothering you, seek professional help to return to balance as soon as possible.

Creating a healthy routine can help you have more restful dreams. Find a good place to meditate. Taking deep breaths can help before bed. In short, try to turn your mind off a bit before going to sleep. Sleep is a very important stage, and it should be taken care of.

Anxiety

Anxiety plagues the post-modern world, the causes are many. From traumas to excessive concern about the future. It is a kind of persistent fear that affects both the conscious and the unconscious, since the feeling of anxiety can occur at any time without specific cause.

Like any excessive feeling, anxiety can be a warning that your psychological system is not well, and that you need professional help to deal with this feeling.

People who suffer from anxiety report that they may experience these symptoms: fear of everyday situations, elevated heart rate, faster breathing, and fatigue.

Sadness and feelings of guilt

Sadness can be a constant feeling and afflicts thousands of people. The reasons can be varied, however, traumas leave marks that are difficult to remove. The feeling of guilt is associated with the fact of not being able to deal with possible mistakes of conduct that all people are subject to commit.

This feeling, at first, only serves for man to fix his actions before society. Therefore, it should not fill any space in his memory in a constant way.

Feeling of being disconnected

One of the technical names for this feeling is: derealization. It is a feeling of disconnection with the people who are close to you, above all, it can be a disconnection with yourself.

It's a defense mechanism the brain devises to adapt to the environment again. It's not uncommon to have this kind of feeling after trauma. The mind shuts itself off from the world to avoid excessive stress.

If this is happening to you frequently, it is important to consult a specialist.

How to overcome traumas

In this topic, you will learn how to get around and overcome traumas through techniques. These models do not replace treatment with a specialist, but there are great gains in quality of life, thus helping recovery.

Breathing

Breathing can be a strong ally for those who have experienced trauma. During a bad thought or one that recalls the trauma, you will be able to use breathing techniques to return to balance. It is known to improve concentration, reduce stress, provide the emptying of the mind, tame anxiety.

And you can use this technique anywhere, in a busy place as well as in a calm place, so use it without limits. The more you do, the more balanced your body will be, thus contributing to the proper functioning of the mind.

Physical exercises

There is a consensus among professionals in various areas of health: physical exercises help to improve mental health. Risks of depression, anxiety, and other mental problems can be decreased or even solved with physical activities. These physical activities can be either weight training or other lighter ones.

There are studies that say that exercise increases cerebral blood flow and thereby oxygen and other energy substrates, thus providing the benefits for cognitive function.

A practical way to keep up your exercise: download apps or arrange with a friend to go for a daily workout outdoors.

Healthy Routine

A healthy routine can be the key to everything. Maintaining a routine that provides happiness, leisure, energy expenditure and healthy eating; can improve many aspects of your life in the short, medium and long term. It's like a positive snowball, you start a goal, it becomes a routine and suddenly you have completely changed your life.

More difficult than starting a healthy routine is keeping up with it, so start slowly! Understand how your mind responds to each activity and adjust until you can maintain it continuously and gradually.

Hobbies

In addition to providing pleasure, hobbies can be a powerful ally in the recovery of people who have experienced some kind of trauma. Playing, traveling, climbing mountains; hobbies help to give continuity to life. You take the focus off the problem and realize that there are other worlds where you can rest and enjoy.

Try to return to those moments of pleasure to tell your mind that everything is okay again, so it will be easier to adapt after possible negative episodes. There are thousands of hobbies that can be found, more than you already have as a diversion. New kinds of sports and fun are waiting for you.

Therapy

Therapy is the name given to a set of processes of psychological recovery that has the intention of reducing the pain that traumas can cause people. Psychotherapy is the most technical term for this subject, it is from the techniques of this science that people can improve their minds after episodes of intense suffering.

There are also alternative therapies that seek to solve or support psychotherapy. In general, they are an important support for those who like to experiment with our treatment possibilities.

Is it common to have some kind of trauma?

Traumas are more common than one can imagine, and most of them are not treated with proper care. Many of these traumas do not harm to the point of plastering the social life of a person, others have a snowball effect that will only be felt in adulthood.

It is interesting that there is personal awareness to resolve all the inconveniences that a certain event may have caused.

Therefore, the best way to treat possible trauma is to face it with the help of a specialist. Therefore, people cannot be intimidated to seek help since most of them have already experienced some trauma.