UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA A trauma is an overwhelming emotional shock to any event that is extremely stressful. Trauma has physical, emotional and behavioural manifestations. Some people show a lot of resiliency and respond with flexibility while others are heavily entrenched by the distress. The latter group show maladaptive behaviours and relational dysfunctions. Following trauma many persons have repetitions, replaying of painful memories, but in some ways, these help in modifying the emotional response to the trauma resulting in a gradual tolerance for the event. This is part of the healing process. Others develop persistent patterns of hyper arousal and avoidance. This is called Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Here the memory increases the sensitization and distress, behind the event. Many traumatized individuals take substances and become self-destructive to reduce the tension of hyper activation and vigilance.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 17:58:24 +0000
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