TRAUMA &

Consequential Disorders

Traumatic events can lead to Acute Stress Disorder, and if it isn’t healed, it can lead to PTSD, depression, and/or anxiety disorders. Long term effects can lead to adjustment disorder as well as further unclassified and unspecified trauma disorders. However, these may vary from person to person.

INDIVIDUALS EITHER:
> Directly experience or witness the traumatic event,
> Learn that the event happened to someone they are close to
> Or experience repeated or extreme exposure to the details of a traumatic event (as do first responders to a tragedy).

TRAUMATIC EVENTS CAN LEAD TO:
> Acute Stress Disorder
> PTSD
> Depression
> Anxiety Disorder
> Adjustment Disorder
> Unclassified and unspecified trauma disorder

THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF TRAUMA:
> Acute trauma results from a single incident.
> Chronic trauma is repeated and prolonged such as a domestic violence or abuse.
> Complex trauma is exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature.

RECOGNIZING ACUTE STRESS DISORDER

It is normal for these symptoms to appear in the first 0-30 days. Persisting symptoms may be a sign of Acute Stress Disorder, which is a normal reaction as a response to the abnormal situation you experienced.

4 NORMAL RESPONSES TO TRAUMA

FIGHT

Confront the Threat

Signs you are in fight mode:

You cry
You feel like punching someone or something
Your jaw is tight, or you grind your teeth
You glare at people or talk to them with anger in your voice
You feel like stomping or kicking
You feel intense anger
You feel like killing someone, perhaps even yourself
Your stomach feels tied in knots, or you have a burning feeling in your stomach

FLIGHT

Run from Danger

Signs you are in flight mode:

Your legs are restless
You feel numbness in your extremities
Your eyes dilate and dart around
You constantly move your legs and feet
You’re fidgety
You’re tense
You feel trapped
You exercise excessively

FREEZE

Unable to Respond

Signs you are in freeze mode:

You feel cold
You have numbness in your body
Your skin is pale
You feel stiff or heavy
You have a sense of dread
Your heart is pounding
Your heart rate may decrease
You feel yourself tolerating the stress

FAWN

Acquiescence to Threat

Signs you are in fawn mode:

You comply with the requests of others
You do not question others
You are overly helpful
You are more concerned with making someone else happy (even if – and especially if – they treat you poorly)
You are constantly trying to please people
You have trouble saying no to others
You seek approval to diffuse threatening situations