Most people experience one or a few traumatic events in their lives. However, chances are fairly low you will develop Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). For those that do, the experience can be highly distressing. Typically it requires professional treatment. Read on to learn more about what trauma is, risks and causes, symptoms and available treatment.

Understanding Trauma

SAMHSA defines trauma as resulting “from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being” [1].

Trauma can be viewed as three intersecting elements: 

• The event
• The experience of the event
• The long-lasting negative effects of the first two

Traumatic events can have short and long-lasting impact in a wide ranging number of ways. 

Risks of Developing Trauma

90% of people will be exposed to a significant traumatic event. However, only about 5-10% suffer from PTSD as most people have the resilience to overcome trauma. There are a number of factors which place someone at risk of trauma. These include [2]:

Social: Social support is a critical element in helping someone who has experienced trauma. The availability of safe, supportive people to provide comfort and insight can go a long way in mitigating the risk of trauma. Those who have family or friends to help typically fare better. 

Biological and Neurological: Those who have scored lower on IQ tests are more susceptible to developing PTSD. As well those who have higher neuroticism also suffer more from trauma [3].

Genetic: There is growing research into the role genetic factors may play in trauma responses. Genetic risk factors may account for up to 30-40% of PTSD due to inherited traits. Research highlights the importance of being able to intervene quickly following trauma for those who are identified as more genetically at risk.

Other: There are several other factors, including:

• The more intense the event, the greater the trauma response. 
• Whether someone has experienced a previous traumatic event, since trauma is cumulative.
• If someone has experienced or is experiencing a mental health disorder, they have a higher risk of PTSD following a traumatic event. 
• If physical pain was involved, such as with sexual or physical abuse, there is a greater tendency to have symptoms of PTSD such as flashbacks, as the pain is a reminder of the event. 
• Drinking too much or using drugs can also lead to trauma responses.

What Could Cause Trauma?

Experiencing, seeing or learning about an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury or assault can lead to PTSD. It is typically the result of a mix of:

• Highly stressful experiences
• The amount of trauma you’ve experienced before in your life
• Inherited mental health risks with a family history of anxiety or depression
• Inherited features of your personality which form your temperament
• The way your brain handles stress

Signs You Might Be Suffering from Trauma

There is a wide range of symptoms that someone experiencing trauma may have. PTSD symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the traumatic event, but sometimes later. To be diagnosed with PTSD they must last longer than a month and interfere with daily life.

Check this list below to see if you are experiencing several of these symptoms for at least a month. It is drawn from the National Institute of Mental Health [4] and Mayo Clinic [5]: 

Re-experiencing the Trauma

These symptoms may be triggered by thoughts and feelings, or other reminders of the traumatic event:

• Having flashbacks. Reliving the event
• Unwanted recurring memories or dreams of the event
• Having distressing (upsetting) thoughts about something that reminds you of the event
• Feeling physical stress

Avoidance

• Avoiding places, events or objects that remind you of the the event
• Avoiding thoughts or feelings connected with the event 
• Changing routines to avoid memories of the event

Arousal and Reactivity

• These symptoms are often constant, leading to stress or anger and may interfere with daily life
• Startling easily or easily frightened
• Being tense, on guard and on edge
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Being irritable, with angry or aggressive outbursts
• Participating in risky, reckless or destructive behavior
• Physical responses such as sweating, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat or shaking

Cognition and Mood

• Difficulty remembering main features of the event
• Feeling negative thoughts about oneself and the world
• Feeling exaggerated blame toward self or others
• Continuous negative feelings such as fear, anger, guilt or shame

• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
• Feeling detached from family and friends
• A hard time feeling positive emotions, such as happiness or satisfaction
• Having ongoing negative emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame
• Losing interest in enjoyable activities
• Having feelings of social isolation
• Having difficulty feeling positive emotions, such as happiness or satisfaction

Trauma Treatments Available

Trauma-informed care is care which is sensitive to and aware of the three elements of trauma mentioned earlier. According to SAMHSA, a trauma-informed approach requires four “Rs”:

• Realizes what trauma is and how it can affect people
• Recognizes the signs of trauma
• Responds by applying the principles of a trauma-informed approach
• Resists re-traumatizing the traumatized person

Despite the significant challenges associated with complex trauma, there is hope for recovery. Research has shown that evidence-based treatments can be effective in helping people heal from the effects of complex trauma. They help people to:

• Process their traumatic experiences
• Develop coping skills
• Build resilience

Specialized effective treatment modalities for complex trauma involve a combination of evidence-based psychotherapies, such as:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Mindfulness practices. 

Professional Treatment in Utah

Treatment is available in Utah. Are you or a loved one looking for a compassionate space to heal from anxiety, trauma, PTSD, other mental health issues or addictions? Our licensed trauma-informed professional therapists and counselors at Corner Canyon Health Centers can provide compassionate help using a range of holistic techniques.

Reach out to our Admissions team now at Corner Canyon. We’re in a peaceful setting bordered by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.

Sources

[1] SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. 2014. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

[2] Sunayana B. Banerjee, Filomene G. Morrison, Kerry J. Ressler, Genetic approaches for the study of PTSD: Advances and challenges, Neuroscience Letters, volume 649, 2017, Pages 139-146,

[3] Tull, M. 2021. Causes and Risk Factors of PTSD. verywellmind.com

[4] National Institute of Mental Health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

[5] Mayo Clinic.2024.  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.