This video reviews ways to help children heal from trauma
Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification programs, especially its Trauma Informed Care Program
TRAUMA
Trauma Informed Care: Resiliency and Post Traumatic Growth
I. Introduction
The complex interplay between trauma, resiliency, and post-traumatic growth serves as a profound area of study, offering insights into the human experience following distressing events. Trauma, often defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, can have a far-reaching impact on individuals, challenging their psychological resilience and emotional fortitude. However, not all who endure trauma succumb to its debilitating effects; instead, many exhibit a remarkable capacity for recovery and transformation. This phenomenon, known as post-traumatic growth, encapsulates the notion that individuals can emerge from traumatic experiences with newfound strengths, perspectives, and appreciation for life. Understanding this relationship is vital, as it highlights the adaptive potential inherent in human beings, fostering a sense of hope and possibility even amidst suffering. Thus, this essay will explore these interconnected themes, seeking to illuminate how trauma can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and resilience (Richard G Tedeschi et al., 2025-07-23).
Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certifications
A. Definition of trauma and its prevalence in society
Trauma, fundamentally understood as an emotional response to distressing events, manifests in numerous ways, affecting individuals mentally, physically, and socially. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, from personal losses and accidents to exposure to violence and natural disasters, resulting in significant psychological repercussions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . Prevalence rates indicate that a substantial portion of the population encounters some form of trauma during their lifetime; studies suggest that nearly 70% of adults in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event, with many grappling with the long-term effects (Bhugra D, 2021-02-04). This widespread incidence underscores the urgency to address trauma within various societal contexts, including healthcare, education, and community support systems, as its impacts extend beyond the individual, influencing familial relations and community dynamics. Understanding trauma’s definition and prevalence is vital for fostering resilience and facilitating pathways to healing.
B. Overview of resiliency and its importance in coping with trauma
Resiliency plays a crucial role in the process of coping with trauma, as it encompasses an individual’s ability to adapt and thrive despite adverse experiences. This psychological strength allows individuals to employ effective coping strategies, which can lead to post-traumatic growth (PTG). For instance, research focusing on survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami reveals that those who utilized problem-focused coping were significantly more likely to experience PTG, highlighting the importance of adaptive strategies in long-term recovery (Hidayati SHS et al., 2025). Similarly, studies on veterans demonstrate that resilience and effective stress coping styles aid in their adaptation after combat experiences, allowing for personal growth and improved psychosocial well-being (T Kudrina et al., 2024). Therefore, fostering resiliency not only enhances coping mechanisms but also serves as a foundational element for individuals to find meaning and strength in their lives following trauma, ultimately facilitating their journey toward recovery.
C. Introduction to the concept of post-traumatic growth
The concept of post-traumatic growth (PTG) emerges from the recognition that individuals often derive positive transformations in the aftermath of trauma. This idea challenges the traditional view that trauma merely leads to psychological distress, emphasizing instead the potential for adaptive changes. Research indicates that those exposed to significant trauma, such as first responders during critical incidents, may exhibit varying profiles of post-trauma responses, including PTG alongside post-traumatic stress symptoms (Brickman S et al., 2023). Furthermore, qualitative studies among populations like female military veterans reveal that the meaning-making process following traumatic experiences can foster resilience and personal growth (A’mie M Preston et al., 2022). These findings underscore the complexity of trauma recovery, suggesting that while pain and suffering are prevalent, they can coexist with significant personal development. Understanding PTG not only enriches our comprehension of traumas effects but also highlights the importance of supporting adaptive coping strategies in therapeutic contexts.
II. Understanding Trauma
Trauma, an intricate and multifaceted phenomenon, profoundly affects individuals, often altering their psychological and emotional landscapes. It can stem from various sources, including personal loss, violence, or natural disasters, and its impact is not merely a fleeting experience but can lead to lasting effects on ones mental health and overall functioning. Understanding trauma involves recognizing both the immediate and ripple effects it can have on an individual’s life, as well as their relationships and sense of self. Importantly, the concept of trauma does not only encompass adverse experiences but also integrates individual responses to these experiences, which can lead to diverse manifestations of distress or resilience. Furthermore, examining the neurological and psychological mechanisms behind trauma helps illuminate pathways for healing and recovery, suggesting that recognizing ones trauma is the first step toward fostering resilience and facilitating post-traumatic growth (Ritblatt SN et al., 2022-09-28).
A. Types of trauma: acute, chronic, and complex trauma
Understanding trauma necessitates a distinction between its various types: acute, chronic, and complex trauma, each possessing unique characteristics and implications for recovery. Acute trauma typically results from a singular distressing event, such as a natural disaster or personal assault, leading to immediate psychological impacts often seen in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In contrast, chronic trauma entails prolonged exposure to stressors, such as domestic violence or long-term illness, resulting in more deeply ingrained psychological issues and affecting an individual’s capacity for resilience. Complex trauma, characterized by exposure to multiple traumatic events, often in the context of interpersonal relationships, complicates recovery further by fostering feelings of helplessness and mistrust. Research highlights that addressing the specificities of each trauma type can improve therapeutic strategies, particularly for those recovering from complex conditions where acute episodes may emerge as complications, reflecting the critical need for tailored interventions in the aftermath of trauma (O Adegboye et al., 2025), (Litvinchik А. et al., 2025).
B. Psychological and physiological effects of trauma on individuals
Trauma exerts profound psychological and physiological effects on individuals, significantly shaping their resilience and potential for post-traumatic growth. Psychological responses to trauma often include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can hinder emotional stability and interpersonal relationships. Research indicates that individuals with a history of childhood trauma exhibit heightened trauma symptomatology, impacting their capacity to cope with subsequent stressors and increasing the risk of revictimization in adulthood (Brooks et al., 2015). Physiologically, trauma can precipitate changes within the brain and body, including alterations in stress response systems that may lead to chronic health issues. Furthermore, integrating arts and creative therapies has emerged as a promising avenue in addressing the health challenges faced by trauma survivors, thereby fostering healing and enhancing overall well-being (N/A, 2013). Understanding these intricate interactions is essential for developing effective interventions aimed at promoting resiliency and facilitating recovery.
C. The role of social and environmental factors in trauma experiences
Understanding the role of social and environmental factors in trauma experiences is crucial for comprehending the pathways to resiliency and post-traumatic growth. Social support significantly influences an individual’s ability to cope with trauma, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where coworker support emerged as the strongest predictor of post-traumatic growth among nurses facing unprecedented challenges (Seo J et al., 2025). This highlights the importance of social networks in facilitating recovery and adaptation. Additionally, environmental factors such as job conditions and resource availability contribute to the potential for growth following traumatic experiences, underscoring the need for supportive organizational structures. Moreover, for emerging adults with a history of childhood trauma, external resources like professional services and social networks serve as protective factors that enable resilience and adaptation (Bahardeen FA et al., 2025). Collectively, these elements illuminate the complex interplay of social and environmental influences that shape trauma experiences and promote recovery pathways.
III. The Concept of Resiliency
Resiliency plays a critical role in how individuals cope with trauma, serving as a fundamental psychological resource that fosters adaptation and recovery following adverse experiences. It is important to distinguish resiliency from concepts such as post-traumatic growth (PTG), which refers to the positive changes emerging from crises. While PTG signifies a transformative process that can lead to enhanced personal development, resiliency encompasses a broader set of skills and traits that can be cultivated in response to any form of adversity, not just traumatic events (Yu.S Kotovska, 2023). In contexts fraught with instability, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, fostering resiliency becomes essential for youth who are particularly vulnerable to emotional disturbances and anxiety (Syniakova V et al., 2025). Thus, interventions aimed at enhancing resiliency, such as emotional regulation and coping strategies, become vital components in the overall framework for psychological support and post-traumatic recovery.
A. Definition and characteristics of resiliency
Resiliency, defined as the capacity to adapt and recover from adversity, plays a crucial role in the process of post-traumatic growth. This characteristic is not merely about enduring but involves actively engaging with and transforming one’s experiences into opportunities for personal development. Individuals demonstrating resiliency often employ adaptive coping strategies, which can include acceptance and planning, as evidenced in studies where effective coping mechanisms mediated the relationship between resiliency and post-traumatic growth (Ogi Nńska-Bulik et al., 2015). Furthermore, resiliency embodies the ability to reframe traumatic experiences, allowing individuals to reconstruct their value systems and gain insight into their lives, as highlighted by recent findings in Positive Psychology (Poseck BV et al., 2006). By understanding the characteristics of resiliency, such as emotional regulation and social support, we gain valuable insight into how individuals not only survive but thrive following trauma, ultimately facilitating a path to growth and enhanced well-being.
B. Factors that contribute to individual resiliency
Resilience, that key ingredient for coping with trauma and even growing from it, comes from all sorts of places, like having people who support you, the way you think, and getting help from specific programs. Take online social support, for example. It really stepped up during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Connecting with others and sharing what you’re going through can seriously boost your emotional resilience. Studies show it can make you more grateful and help you see things in a new light, which can lead to post-traumatic growth (Hao X et al., 2025). Then there are programs like the Maeum Program in South Korea. It’s a stabilization-centered intervention that has been shown to help people deal with psychiatric symptoms and actually grow after trauma. These types of programs usually focus on teaching people about what they’re going through and giving them coping strategies. This reinforces those resilience factors that are so important for recovering and adapting after something traumatic (Oh IM et al., 2025).
C. The impact of social support systems on resiliency
It’s hard to overstate how important social support systems are when it comes to helping people bounce back from trauma. Think of social support as a safety net – it boosts a person’s ability to handle stress and tough times. When people have strong bonds with family, friends, and their community, that really helps them stay emotionally stable, which is super important for resilience. Research has shown that people who have solid social networks tend to report fewer trauma symptoms and are generally doing better overall in their lives. This highlights just how crucial those community connections are for healing. On top of this, certain systemic issues – we’re talking about things like implicit racism and stigma – hit marginalized groups especially hard. This makes it clear that we need support systems designed to address those specific issues (Rich J, 2016). When we really get how different trauma experiences can be, and how they affect people in different ways, we can see that having comprehensive social support systems is essential for helping people grow after trauma and supporting them as they work toward recovery (Brooks et al., 2015).
IV. Post-Traumatic Growth
Post-traumatic growth, or PTG, shows how people can actually grow after really tough times. It’s not just about bouncing back to normal like resilience; PTG means that bad experiences can actually make you see things differently, feel stronger, and have better relationships. Studies show that after trauma, people might find a new love for life, feel more for others, and rethink what’s important to them (Shakespeare-Finch J et al., 2024-02-27). These changes often happen because of big questions and struggles that come up when you’re healing, pushing you to really think about what you believe in. Because of all this, PTG highlights a hopeful part of being human. It shows that we don’t just sit back and take trauma—we can actively rebuild who we are and make our lives better even after we’ve suffered.
A. Definition and key components of post-traumatic growth
Generally speaking, post-traumatic growth, or PTG, considers positive psychological shifts that may follow difficult life events, especially trauma. This idea has become noteworthy because it emphasizes that individuals, in most cases, may come away from such experiences with a greater sense of personal strength, deeper connections with others, and a changed perspective on what they value in life. Key elements of PTG involve changes in how one views themself, a heightened feeling of purpose, and the formation of new priorities and values. Furthermore, PTG emphasizes the significance of how individuals perceive their growth, rather than relying just on what can be observed outwardly (Keidar M, 2013). The resilience shown while dealing with trauma highlights that, even though such events are exceptionally difficult, they also provide chances for deep personal change and revitalization, as studied within Positive Psychology (Poseck BV et al., 2006).
B. Stages of post-traumatic growth and personal transformation
Generally speaking, post-traumatic growth illustrates a pretty significant transformation that people might go through after experiencing trauma. It’s marked by several stages that help with healing and personal development. At first, someone might feel shock and confusion, which leads them to rethink what’s important and how they see life. As they work through their emotional stuff, they often find they’re more resilient, so they can adapt and take on new chances to grow. For example, studies have shown that renal transplant recipients often report positive changes in their mental state after surgery, seeing optimism and personal growth as key results of their experience (Kamran F et al., 2016). Moreover, research suggests people often rebuild their values after trauma, implying that even when things are tough, there’s room for positive changes in life. Ultimately, these stages of post-traumatic growth emphasize the human capacity to become stronger and more resilient when facing life’s challenges (Poseck BV et al., 2006).
C. Case studies illustrating post-traumatic growth in individuals
Considering specific instances of people who have gone through traumatic events gives insight into the nuanced connection between hardship and development after the trauma, which shows a route of strength and change. A good example of this is the psychological changes seen in those who lived through the Iran-Iraq war. (Hashemi M et al., 2025). Their enduring early trauma could nurture better emotional strength and coping tactics. Even when trauma’s effects remain, their stories show how people can build resilience and improve their cognitive abilities. Similarly, young adults from Klang Valley, Malaysia, said that social support and creative activities were essential in their growth because they assisted them in overcoming challenges brought on by past traumas (Bahardeen FA et al., 2025). These particular cases emphasize that even though trauma frequently results in tremendous pain, it can also spark significant personal growth, which reinforces the idea that strong coping mechanisms can emerge from even the worst situations.
V. Conclusion
To sum up, the ways that trauma, resilience, and post-traumatic growth interact really shows how complicated it is for people to react to upsetting situations. Like recent research shows, including looking at how palliative care nurses use self-reflexive blog writing, people can still grow and become more resilient even when dealing with big problems, like those that came up during the COVID-19 pandemic (N Lalani et al., 2025). Also, what mental health workers went through during the Israel-Hamas conflict points out how trauma has two sides: personal resilience can help protect against feeling anxious and stressed, but it can also lead to post-traumatic growth (Dahan S et al., 2024). This complicated relationship suggests that trauma, while obviously upsetting, can also kick-start big personal changes if people have the right ways to cope and good social support. For that reason, it’s very important for people and professionals to understand these things when working on trauma recovery, which opens the door for ways to use resilience to help people heal and grow.
Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program as well as its other healthcare certification programs
A. Summary of the relationship between trauma, resiliency, and growth
Navigating tough times involves a complex dance between trauma, resilience, and personal growth. Sure, trauma can hit hard, but research suggests resilience often softens the blow, influencing how much growth we see afterward. For instance, (Her T et al., 2025) points out that resilience and, interestingly, thinking things over intentionally can really help in reflecting and processing emotions post-trauma. Empathy and a belief in one’s own abilities also play a role. Studies on nursing students, for example, show that these traits can lessen the negative impacts of trauma and encourage positive results ((Doaa L Shahin et al., 2025)). So, boosting resilience and empathy in education and therapy is key. It’s not just about bouncing back; it’s about growing and changing for the better because of what we’ve been through. Adversity, then, holds surprising potential for transformation.
B. Implications for mental health practices and interventions
For those in the mental health field, it’s incredibly important to really grasp how trauma, resilience, and even growth after trauma can affect how we treat and help people. Recognizing the important part that spirituality can play – as a resource – is vital for helping people build resilience and heal after tough times. When people use their faith to cope, it seems they often function better and even find ways to grow from the experience, like seeing loss and suffering in a new light (Dr. Bajpai P, 2025). Moreover, schools can be key in supporting the mental well-being of teenagers. A caring and understanding environment helps them bounce back from difficulties and maybe even grow stronger (Khoirunnisa M et al., 2025). So, using trauma-informed approaches, focusing on spirituality, and encouraging supportive settings can greatly improve our methods of intervention. Ultimately, this can lead to better results for people dealing with the many layers of trauma.
C. Final thoughts on fostering resilience and promoting growth after trauma
To summarize, when thinking about trauma, promoting resilience and personal development isn’t just important for individuals—it can really help whole communities. Interventions that work best focus on improving mental resources. Things like resilience, belief in yourself, and good memories are key; research shows they help people grow after hard times (Ime Y et al., 2025). A complete view suggests older models need updating. It is important to think about values. People will need to reconstruct their personal priorities and beliefs after trauma (Y Nazar, 2024). Acknowledging the psychological and value-based elements, practitioners can then design specific therapies to help survivors heal. Personal strengths mixed with social factors greatly affect how each person recovers. Resilience is key, and it is a communal asset in overcoming life’s difficulties.
Additional Resources
Sutton, J, (2019). “What Is Post-Traumatic Growth? (+ PTG Inventory & Scale)”. Positive Psychology. Access here
Collier, L. (2016). “Growth after trauma”. APA. Access here
Gills, K. (2024). “What Makes Us Resilient After Trauma?”. Psychology Today. Access here
“6 Essential Lessons from a Survivor: Building Resilience After Trauma”. Mind Resilient. Access here
Neurobiology and Trauma
When a person is confronted with a life and death situation, the body responds with a fight, flight, or freeze response. Other responses can include fawning, or complete total shutdown of the body. These behavioral responses to stressors, life altering events, or trauma in forms of abuse or loss correlate with inner workings of the sympathetic nervous system which activates the body to respond. While in the acute phase of reaction to threats, this evolutionary reaction system is good and beneficial but when trauma becomes stuck and unresolved resulting in constant hyperarousal or hypoarousal manifested in PTSD, then it can become pathological and require intense therapy to resolve the unresolved trauma. This article will review the inner workings of trauma response within the brain and why unresolved trauma becomes an issue for some individuals.
Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications, especially in Trauma Informed Care, Grief Counseling and Crisis Intervention
The Brain and Threat Reaction
All reactions within the body are due to stressors. When something is perceived as a threat, the body responds. This fear circuitry promotes safety and survival (Evans, 2014, p. 20). The old part of the brain is the emotional part and possesses the feelings while the newer more evolved part of the brain processes the feelings from an intellectual perspective. Both these processes interact in stress response over riding each other. The primary reactions to stress include the autonomic nervous system which activates the sympathetic for fight or flight, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which releases hormones and cortisol for stress response and the limbic system of the brain which processes threats and emotions during a threat.
Evans notes that the fear response to threats is a crucial part of human survival and the process in which human beings react to fear in the brain is essential (2014, p. 21). Unfortunately, some events are not processed properly in the moment due to extreme emotional imprinting and this leads to unresolved issues.
In any fear, terror, or stress moment, the brain analyzes the threat. Within seconds, the sympathetic nervous system is activated to the perceived threat. The body releases norepinephrine and epinephrine , also known as noradrenaline and adrenaline into the body. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland also then releases cortisol into the body. This increases blood flow and heart rate, tightens muscles and prepares the body for fight or flight. In turn the amygdala processes these emotions and stores them. While the amygdala is operating, the prefrontal cortex or thinking part of the brain is less active. Once the threat is distinguished, the body is supposed to return to a base line state. Evans refers to this process as fear extinction (2014, p., 21). Individuals who continue to experience heightened fear responses when the threat is no longer an issue exist in a state of dysfunction with unresolved trauma since the brain cannot tell the difference between the memory and current non-threatening state.
Key to stress response are three key parts of the brain. This includes the hippocampus, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex which make up the limbic system. These three interplay with each other and are key to fear extinction, emotional regulation and cognitive reasoning (Evans, 2014, p. 22). They also play a key role in storing memories from short term to long term storage and differentiating between past and present threats. The hippocampus deals with memory and context. It plays a key role in processing and storing memories and when the hippocampus is in dysfunction this can negatively effect trauma resolution. The amygdala during the stress response also becomes activated. The amydala is the alarm system of the brain. Those with PTSD are said to have a hyperactive amygdala due to unresolved trauma which prevents fear extinction (Evans, 2014, p.24). The pre-frontal cortex which manages cognitive thought, emotional regulation and decision making. It can also become impaired during trauma. When not working, it can lead to subjective fears and lack of emotional regulation and loss of rationale. Under normal circumstances, fear is extinguished and the body returns to a normal state via the hippocampus processing the context of here and then, the prefrontal cortex processing the event, and the amygdala activation decreasing. In cases when trauma is unresolved, the hippocampus is unable to process the here and now, while the amygdala remains hyperactivated, preventing the prefrontal cortex from processing the event. This hinders the ability of the hippocampus to store the memory properly in the past and the hyperactivation of the amygdala inhibits the prefrontal cortex from problem solving (Evans, 2014, p. 31-32).
Unresolved Trauma and PTSD
Individuals exposed to extreme cases of pain, loss, abuse, war, or inhumane treatment have the potential for PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is one of the most common forms of unresolved trauma disorders that individuals face. Once considered only a war time disorder, it now can effect any trauma survivor of abuse, rape, or natural disaster. Yet it is important to note that the same horrific event may be processed by some and not others. Most can process the traumatic event within 3 months, while others may experience prolonged trauma (Evans, 2014, p. 29). Numerous subjective variables about the person’s genetics, brain structure, past trauma, resilient traits and social support all play roles why some persons process trauma without dysfunction and others do. It is not a sign of weakness but merely an inability for a particular case and reason that the brain is unable to properly process the situation. As seen above, this sometimes has much to do with the amygdala and the inability to extinguish the fear.
Due to these issues, hyperarousal or hypoarousal can occur in those with PTSD. This leads to re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance, as well as hyperarousal which can lead to hypervigilance (Evans, 2014.. p. 29). Those with PTSD are unable to regulate emotions when hyperarousal or hypoarousal occur. To learn more about hyperarousal or hypoarousal and emotional regulation, please click here. Whether hypoarousal and its symptoms of numbing, withdraw and dissociation, or hyperarousal and its symptoms of anxiety and hypervigilance, the brain is unable to differentiate the past trauma with current triggers. This can cause flashbacks where the person loses contact with time, or location. Only until the person learns grounding techniques and ways to regulate emotion can he/she find a window of tolerance to experience the event, process it, recreate new neuropathways associated with the memory, and store it long term without unresolved trauma symptoms.
Many counselors utilize exposure therapies such as EMDR, or cognitive therapies such as CBT to help clients and victims revisit and reframe the event in a healthy fashion and learn to process it as well as manage and regulate emotions that can be triggered due to the event.
Conclusion
The purpose of this short article was more so to understand the parts of the brain associated with the stress response and how the brain normally operates to better understand why when it does not operate correctly, one experiences unresolved trauma and PTSD. An overactive amygdala and underactive prefrontal cortex play off each other and cause the inability for the body to continue the process of fear extinction. This causes an inability of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to properly process, understand and store the memory. While most resolve traumatic experiences within 3 months, some do not. There are many subjective variables as to why one person and not another may experience unresolved trauma. Trauma Informed Care specialists understand the neuroscience behind PTSD and help the client or victim find windows of tolerance and teach them emotional regulation and grounding techniques to heal from cope as well as heal from past trauma.
Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program as well as its many healthcare certification programs.
Reference
Evans, A. & Coccoma, P. (2014).”Trauma Informed Care: How Neuroscience Influences Practice”. Routledge.
Additional Resources
“The Neurobiology of Trauma: Understanding the Brain’s Response to Adverse Experiences 2025”. Kaplan Therapy. Access here
“How the Brain Reacts to Stress and Trauma” Science News Today. Access here
Kubala, K. (2021). “The Science Behind PTSD Symptoms: How Trauma Changes the Brain”. PsychCentral. Access here
“Trauma and the Brain: PTSD Brain Diagrams Explained” (2024). NeuroLaunch. Access here
Signs of Trauma and Abuse Video Blog
It is imperative within trauma informed care to be aware of and looking for signs of trauma or abuse in clients. This video looks at some signs of abuse and trauma. Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program, as well as its Crisis Intervention program and Grief Counseling program. AIHCP offers a variety of healthcare certification programs. Please click here
Trauma and Counseling Video Blog
Trauma informed care specialists in counseling are aware of the existence of trauma in clients. Sometimes, trauma emerges in counseling. How the counselor or social worker presents oneself is key in helping the victim/survivor feel secure and safe in discussing it. In some cases, counselors may need to help the person ground oneself due to the increase of anxiety and panic when trauma emerges. This video looks at trauma and how to help clients who need help regulating emotion due to unresolved trauma
Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program as well as all of AIHCP’s healthcare certifications.
Trauma Informed Care Video Blog
Great video on an introduction to Trauma Informed Care. Please review AIHCP’s numerous behavioral health and healthcare certifications
Behavioral and Mental Health Certifications: Signs of Trauma in the Population
Trauma is part of life. Bad things occur and for some the bad things are more horrific and imprinting upon the person. Estimates themselves reflect this. It is calculated that 70 percent of all human beings will experience some type of trauma that is beyond the basic losses and pains of this temporal world. In addition, 75 percent of children will experience some type of adverse childhood experience (ACE) that can negatively effect their emotional, mental, social and physical development.
While natural disaster trauma and collective social traumas leave deep marks on human beings, it is the violent and mystifying actions of evil at the hands of other human beings that leave the most devastating marks on the soul. Wars, genocides, human trafficking, sexual abuse, rape, shootings as well as being witness to horrific murders and abusive events can all leave a horrible imprint on a person, whether child or adult. While the event itself plays a key role, amazingly some individuals can process trauma and not linger with the effects of prolonged pain or PTSD. This does not make those succumb to trauma weak, or cowardly, but illustrates the reality that trauma is not just about the horrific event but also the subjective experience and the lingering effects following it. One’s genetic makeup, the social constructs and support around them, individual character and resiliency, as well as genetic and mental makeup due to past history can all play roles in how one may digest and cope trauma as opposed to another.
In states of crisis, a person suffers from disequilibrium and de-stabilization of self. The brain loses ability to handle the current situation because it overwhelms one’s coping mechanism. This leads to emotional distress and inability to cope. One is unable to think or act clearly. Those who experience severe trauma in the acute moment of it usually experience this overwhelming leaving them in the aftermath confused, lost and emotional unstable. The purpose of crisis intervention and emotional triage via emotional and psychological first aid are essential in these moments to help the person find equilibrium as well as stabilization but the efforts of long term trauma care and counseling falls under trauma informed care.
Within the population there is a high level of individuals suffering from long term trauma and PTSD. It is important for mental health and healthcare professionals to understand the signs of trauma and be better equipped to help those experiencing it in the present as well as those suffering from the past lingering effects.
Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care, as well as Crisis Intervention and other behavioral and mental health certifications. Qualified professionals can utilize these certifications within the scope of their practice to better help those in pastoral or clinical settings of needed care.
Trauma Signs
Flight, Flee, Freeze or Fawn
The most common reactions to trauma include fight, flight, freeze or fawn (Compton, 2024 p. 105-107). The latter two have been added over the years and are equally important. In understanding human survival, these mechanisms are key in helping an individual make it through a life threatening situation. How a a person responds or does not respond does not equate to inadequacy or cowardice or acceptance of an event, but relates to numerous subconscious immediate decisions in a given situation based on subjective experiences within the person’s life. These particular reactions also play key roles in later trauma recovery because individuals may question, feel guilty or be ashamed of particular reactions.
When the body experiences a threat, the brain and body activate the sympathetic nervous system. This system releases cortisol into the blood stream and other hormones to help prepare the body for danger. The heart rate rises, blood flow increases and muscles tighten to help the body fend off the threat. In this moment of extreme stress, the brain mixed with multiple emotional responses decides to fight off the situation, flee the situation, or in some cases, shuts down the body to freeze. This is seen in nature as well. Animals will fight back, flee or sometimes freeze in utter fear in hopes of being left alone. In human beings, many of the same thoughts race through the mind. With emotion, comes intellectual thoughts based on our subjective history and experience. Can I fight this threat, if not, can I flee or avoid it, or should I freeze and hope. Many times in horror movies, we see the later. We scream at the television for the actor or actress to run or move, but the person is so terrified, he or she shows no resistance to the killer, slasher or monster. This response of freeze is referred to tonic immobility and it tied to the body’s psychological attempt to detach from reality and the danger since it has accepted fight of flight as an impossible option (Compton, 2024, p. 106). Hence some women who are raped, may completely freeze and the body shuts down while the brain experiences the fear and trauma. During this shutdown, some psychologists use other terms to explain this sensation of immobility. During the intense moments of fright of the trauma, the body may flag itself into immobility. During this intense freeze or flagging, ironically the sympathetic nervous system and its reaction releases itself to the parasympathetic system which returns blood back to the core of the body, eases muscle tension, and the body becomes almost frozen. Frozen in fright, the mental brain looks to shut down or dissociate from the trauma. In these cases, many victims may not even feel physical pain, see as clearly, or hear but they remain frozen and in some cases, even dissociate to the point of almost feeling as if out of the body and looking downward. In addition, since the trauma is so intense, the body’s coping mechanism looks to detach and many details of the assault or trauma or not properly logged. Instead, the emotional part of the brain takes over. This is also why sometimes details of survivors in regards to trauma may be not be as precise as law enforcement sometimes may wish. Finally, beyond this freezing, fright and flagging, occurs the final defense mechanism of the body which involves faint. In this, the body shuts down consciousness to the horrible ideal.
In regards to fawn, victims in an attempt to survive will work with the assailant and not resist but attempt to be be accepting of the situation. Children, and again women in assault cases, many times to survive will use this last option as a way in hopes of reducing the pain inflicted. Without escape or any hope, they succumb to the wishes of the assailant whether it involves laughing with them, or taking drugs with them, or pretending to enjoy, or partake to avoid physical injury. According to Compton, this response is completely unique to humans as a way to escape a situation in hopes of making it less worst and later survive (2024, p. 107). Some victims may consider the price of cooperating better than the price of being beaten and killed if they attempt to resist. Sometimes, pending on the psychopath or assailant, this may work in reducing injuries, while in some cases, the perpetrator injures or kills regardless. However, within the subjective mind of the victim, the call to fawn or not fawn is gamble that is made in the heat of the moment.
What later plays a role in prolonged and unresolved trauma for survivors are the cognitive distortions that can result from whichever action one chose. Those who did not fight back or flee, but froze may be hard on themselves and feel they could have saved themselves if they had just acted. A woman who did not flee a rapist, or a soldier who froze in an attack may all suffer deep remorse or regret for their actions. Yet, their responses were not so much conscious but related to inner wiring of how they would respond in this particular situation. The trauma was so powerful, they were forced to detach from the utter horrific nature of the event. Equally if not more harmful cognitive distortions can emerge with those who utilize fawning as a way to survive. They display shame and guilt and even to some extent may think they partook in it voluntarily. A woman may feel shame in laughing or accepting drugs during a rape and even doubt her victimhood but the reality is the woman entered into a survival mechanism to limit harm to self (Compton, 2024, p. 107). Counselors need to affirm the fears these individuals feel, listen with empathy and without judgement the reactions in the moment and help cognitively realign the experience with reality of “having to do what you had to do to survive”. The survivor needs vindicated in the choices made to keep him/her alive in a horrific moment no person should have to endure.
Intrusions
In addition to trauma responses and their linger effects, individuals, especially those with PTSD, suffer from intrusions. Intrusions, flashbacks, or nightmares can be triggered by simple scents, sights, sounds, or places. Due to the fact the horrific trauma imprinted upon the emotional part of the brain within the amygdala, the emotions and sounds of the moments became associated with the event. Hence even a simple backfire of a car can send an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran into a flashback on a city street. Due to the trauma, many of the normal reasoning functions of the pre-frontal cortex associated with the memory were never properly filed within the brain and processed as a healthy moment in time. Instead, the memory is raw and unprocessed as closely tied to the emotional responses of the day of trauma. In turn, a sight, scent, taste, or sound closely associated with that traumatic event can trigger a response that intrudes into the mind and takes the person away from the present. Severity of these responses vary in flashbacks but some can completely cause dissociation from the present. The person will enter into a flashback where they are no longer present. Some individuals may lose hours of the day or merely minutes pending on severity. Others will be haunted by unresolved nightmares that place the survivor back in the traumatic situation. Counselors who work with trauma survivors or individuals they suspect of past trauma will be able to identify these key signs of abuse or unresolved issues.
Hyperarousal or hypervigilance
One key sign of trauma is hyperarousal or hypervigilance. Many who suffer from trauma have a heightened sense of awareness of certain places or people. This heightened awareness activates a survivor’s sympathetic nervous system and leaves them in a state of watching or preparing for the worst. A retired soldier may watch various entrances of all escape routes or doorways even when at a simple dinner with his wife and children. A rape victim may be terrified to walk by an alley. School shooting survivors may during class time also experience issues returning to school or walking into the building. Due to the hypervigilance and the imprinted trauma, ones arousal level is so high that the thinking part of the brain cannot differentiate between the traumatic historic event and current situations that pose no threat. In addition, many completely seek shelter and protection from the public eye and seek isolation to cope with their states of hyperarousal. The person hence becomes disconnected from the present, hyper-focuses on non-existent threats, and is in a state of fear or anxiety within normal situations (Compton, 2024, p.108-109). Counselors will need to employ various emotional regulation strategies, ground techniques, exposure and EDMR therapies, or cognitive behavioral to help the person gain control of these rampant emotional memories and flashbacks.
Changed World Views and Attitudes of Survivors
Due to this new altered sense, even when not hyper aroused, the past trauma can reshape and damage previous held world views (Compton, 2024. p, 2009). Traumatic events can alter the view that the world is a safe place. Unlike many individuals in rural areas, those who frequently experience inner city violence will definitely frame a different world view from childhood onward, especially children who were never able to experience safety and security. For those who lived the American dream, those who suddenly become victim or witness to school shooting, or experience a violent crime suddenly may come to new realities that may make them challenge their worldview, faith, God, and moral framework how the world operates. Some may become cynical, others hopeless, some angry and vindictive, others may look to over-protect others because they see danger everywhere.
World views and previous held ideas lead to different reactions to situations and life itself. Some of the key points according to Compton include a lack of safety and a sense of vulnerability that did not previously exist. In addition, Compton lists a lack of trust. This lack of trust may be towards the power of God, or the power of local government to protect oneself. Many may feel forsaken and left to fend for oneself in this state of despair. Also, Compton lists esteem and defectiveness that follows trauma. Trauma survivors can exhibit negative views about themselves and doubt their worthiness to be loved after the event, or are not deserving of a good and productive post trauma life. Others may also alter views on others and stereotype races, religions, cultures and others that are associated with the trauma itself. Through this, the person is filled with anger, suspicion and bitterness towards other people who may share the same skin color or faith of the perpetrator. Compton points out that other survivors may exhibit unnecessary power and control over others or situations in an attempt to prevent the trauma from occurring again. This type of survivor may be a person who lives in constant hyperarousal and promises that what occurred will never happen again to the point of compulsion driven by anxiety. This leads to controlling even smaller aspects of life and relationships. Some may even feel erroneously partial responsible for the trauma and will look at any cost to control all aspects to avoid the same outcome. Finally, Compton lists that intimacy and how future trauma survivors respond to others and relationships can be altered. Children who experience trauma at a young age will have different attachment disorders based on trauma ranging from anxious relationship, to avoidant ones, while adults who are reshaped by trauma may experience difficulties with intimacy. A wife who was raped may be unable to have intercourse with her husband because of the violation of the sexual act in her rape. The movements or act may activate a flashback or cause intense emotional pain. Some who are not in a relationship may seek isolation and avoid attachment and at the expense of genuine human connection, forfeit future relationships due to the traumatic event (2024. p. 109-113).
Long Term Mental and Physical Signs
Trauma damages the entirety of the human person. Untreated trauma looks to numb and escape the pains through various maladaptive ways. Whether it is isolation, avoidance, or control measures, the person still exhibits the pains of trauma. Because of this, many associated with trauma become alcoholics or drug addicts hopes of numbing the pain and escaping the memories. These short term tricks however only further damage the mind and body with addiction and all the legal, financial, social, mental and physical troubles associated with it. In addition, many mentally may attempt to numb psychic pain with physical pain and self harm themselves or even idealize suicide to escape the pain. Others may utilize sex or gambling or other unhealthy way habits. Hence, those who are associated with long term and unresolved trauma are tied to depression, anxiety, physical injuries, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases (Compton, 2024, p. 116).
Physically, those who deal with long term trauma even if they avoid maladaptive practices find themselves in a constant state of hyperarousal and the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Like chronic stress, the continual state of alert has negative effects on the body, especially the cardiovascular system. Due to the constant stress, trauma survivors or life long victims of trauma find themselves with many digestive diseases, migraines and sleep issues. This leads to immune issues related to chronic inflammation throughout the body (Compton, 2024. p. 116-117). These physical issues to lead to social issues with work, education and advancement, leaving many life long trauma survivors in perilous situations beyond their trauma itself. This all has reflections on every aspect of their life and choices which can also affect other individuals negatively. When those suffer from a singular and isolated trauma, as opposed to a communal trauma, many times the individual never finds affirmation, connection, or support. These individuals, without healing, slowly rot from the vine and deteriorate. Many fall under the rug and find themselves homeless, or imprisoned for petty crimes. Others develop more severe mental illness and can lash out at others within the community.
Hence, it is a communal issue to identify trauma signs and help individuals find the help and aid they need to heal. Counselors can look for these long term mental, physical, emotional and social signs of long term trauma to better help individuals find healing via trauma informed care.
Conclusion
When signs of trauma and abuse or missed initially, or permitted to fester, the wholeness and dignity of the person erodes. Whether it is a life long series of traumas or adverse childhood experiences, or one horrible life altering event, trauma victims/survivors need help to heal. While some individuals are resilient due to numerous and multiple subjective factors, others through no fault, fall victim to PTSD or trauma induced wounds. These individuals if not helped are unable to cope in productive ways and can harm themselves, others, relationships or ruin their own careers. This overflows into society and without a empathetic and compassionate approach to help these individuals, then society as a whole suffers. Trauma Informed Care looks to identify many of the signs listed above and better help and equip individuals to find healing and healthy coping mechanisms to heal and overcome trauma. Trauma may leave a scar but it does not need to be a destructive event in the person’s life that destroys everything the person is. Instead, human beings can heal, create new neuropathways, find meaning in horror and create positive outcomes out of the darkness.
Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program, as well as its many behavioral and mental health certifications for human service workers, both clinical and pastoral, as well as healthcare professionals who seek to help and make a difference for those who have experienced trauma.
Additional Blogs
Sexual Assault. Click here
Domestic Violence. Click here
Crisis Intervention in Acute Mental Crisis. Click here
Crisis Intervention Assessment. Click here
Trauma During Counseling. Click here
Resource
Compton, L & Patterson, T. (2024) . “Skills for Safeguarding: A Guide for Preventing Abuse and Fostering Healing in the Church”. Academic
Additional Resources
“Trauma and Violence”. SAMHSA. Access here
“Identifying Trauma” Center on Child Wellbeing and Trauma. Access here
Aten, J. (2020). “How to Identify and Find Help for Trauma”. Psychology Today. Access here
“Recognizing the Effects of Abuse-Related Trauma”. CAMH. Access here
What is Trauma Informed Care?
Trauma is part of life. As long one exists, trauma can occur. Treating trauma acutely on the scene is important in crisis and mental health, but also recognizing it within a client or patient who has experienced it is key. Being trauma informed and trauma aware can bring day light to many existing problems and prevent many future ones. Mental health professionals must hence be trauma cognizant and alert for clues and possible issues within a client or patient.
Again, the true reality is everyone grieves and loses someone or something. The chance of one of those incidents to cause trauma at least once to some level in someone’s life is around 80 percent. So understanding the fine line between experiencing something sad, or even bad, and how that translates subjectively to trauma is important since such a high percentage of people within the population will experience some type of traumatic reaction. Identifying and helping individuals who are dealing with trauma can be a beautiful healing moment.
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program, as well as its Trauma Informed Care Programs in 2026 for both clinical as well as pastoral disciplines. Bear in mind, helping others with trauma and processing it, is not merely a clinical purpose, but it can fall into non clinical and pastoral settings. So, it is important to help individuals face trauma within one’s scope of professional practice. While this may be limiting for some, such as pastors or chaplains within the scope of their mental health training, other licensed professionals in social work, counseling or psychiatric nursing can help treat trauma at a much deeper level. AIHCP’s certifications in behavioral health are aimed at giving professionals within all scopes of mental health additional knowledge and skills to help those in trauma to process and identify it. The idea of recognizing trauma across a life span has only been recently introduced into the DSM-V. This has opened the floodgates for many professionals to become certified within this field or utilize it within their practice.
What is Trauma
A person enters a state of crisis when something overwhelms his/her abilities to cope and handle the situation. It de-stabilizes and disorientates them. Like crisis, trauma is a severe stressful and impactful event in life that imprints itself upon the person. Sometimes it is so horrible, the person is not even able to properly store it within the mind resulting later in PTSD. Different levels of trauma exist. In the article, “Advanced Method-Trauma Informed Framework” from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration), the individual who suffers from trauma experiences what is referred to the 3 “E”s of trauma care. The includes the event itself, the experience of it and the effects of it.
Within the event, what was the triggering occurrence that caused the initial trauma in a person’s life. This is very subjective in nature. What may negatively impact one person, may not hurt someone else based on numerous subjective, cultural, religious, emotional, mental and social support systems that make up the person’s ability to handle a crisis or horrible situation. While an event may objectively be horrible, some individuals are able to recover and show resiliency to it and trauma is minimal or non existent. Some soldiers can return home from war without trauma, while others cannot escape the trauma. So while the event may be objectively dark, such as a tornado destroying one’s home, an individual may still respond to that event without long term trauma as opposed to someone else.
The experience of event is the second key element. This is far more subjective in nature and determines if the individual will suffer trauma. The experience at the mental, emotional, or physical level is so intense, it overtakes the individual to the point that the persons experience of the event is traumatic acutely as well as long term. This again points back to a person’s emotional and mental build to particular events in life. A person’s history, a person’s interior resiliency, or a person’s support systems can all play key roles in how a person handles a crisis or how a traumatic event imprints upon a person. This in no way dismisses a person who experiences trauma as weaker than others because everyone is susceptible to trauma–it just matters what is one’s tipping point.
The effects of trauma play the third key element. The effects of a traumatic event can be short term or long term. They can be affect all aspects of the person. Effects can include inability to cope with life and everyday stressors, or trust others, social withdraw and issues, or loss of purpose and life meaning, or properly utilize the cognitive process. It can result in maladaptive coping practices, as well as manifest with symptoms associated with PTSD that include hyper vigilance, avoidance, dissociation, nightmares or emotional numbing.
Trauma across a life span and trauma informed care recognizes the imprint of trauma on human life and seeks to see if any trauma still lingers or was never discovered or at least discussed that may be haunting a client throughout his or her life.
SAMHSA and the Four “R”s and Key Assumptions in Trauma and Informed Care
SAMHSA’s article, “Advanced Method-Trauma Informed Framework” gives a detailed account about qualities and key assumptions in presenting a concise commitment to treating trauma across a life span and helping agencies, as well as individual practitioners a better way to proceed forward in creating a practice that gravitates around trauma informed care. The four R’s are essential in addressing trauma within any agency. A program or organization first needs to realize the impact of trauma as a universal human phenomenon that requires treatment in life. Secondly, counselors, or agencies need to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma that are either acute or manifesting across the span of one’s life time. In many cases, one may have been living with trauma undetected through professional services or lack of visit. Counselors need to be aware that some new clients may have trauma from ages ago that was never treated. The agency or organization then needs to have the ability to respond to the needs of the client via fully integrated knowledge, training, policies and procedures to help the person. Finally, the agency owes to to any client to resist re-traumatization of the person.
A trauma informed approach according to SAMHSA also applies six key principles to its application. First and foremost, safety is key when working with trauma patients. The client must feel safe physically, emotionally and mentally and the environment must facilitate that aura of safety. Second, the agency and counselors or social workers need to present its operations in an open and trustworthy fashion. Third, peer support is a key element in any healing. Peer support or trauma survivors can supply their stories or support to others walking the healing journey. Fourth, the entirety of the agency all plays a role in the healing process. The entire agency has a clear and mutually defined role in application of trauma support. Fifth, both staff and clients are given empowerment. The client is able to share in the process of healing via choice and decisions in plans of action. The staff as well is given empowerment via support of from the administration as well as the tools necessary to do their work. The final principle involves removal of any bias based on culturally, religious or gender issues when dealing with and helping individuals deal with trauma. In doing so, staff recognizes the trauma that can exist within certain groups and how that can manifest within individuals.
SAMHSA and Implementing a Trauma Informed Approach
Trauma informed care is an organizational decision that transforms the organization or agency or individual social worker or counselors paradigm of working with individuals. To be successfully implemented, it takes more than principles and good philosophies but a pragmatic process that involves multiple levels of preparation, policies, training, finances and feed back. SAMHSA lists ten core implementation domains that are essential to help agencies properly support individuals suffering from trauma.
First, governance and leadership is essential. There needs to be a conscious choice to implement trauma informed care and establish leadership and management of its implementation to oversee and work with peers and staff in that effort. Second, the agency needs written policies established that outline the new mission as well as a blue print for procedure. Third, the organization needs to create a physical environment that mirrors a safe harbor for the type of work trauma counseling requires. Individuals must feel safe, secure and able to trust without fear of embarrassment, guilt, or repercussion of their story. Fourth, there needs to be within the agency an engagement and involvement across multiple lines of individuals not only between counselor and client, but also within the organization itself and the process of helping individuals through trauma at all levels. In addition, fifth, an agency needs to be equipped with cross sector collaborations with other agencies at the local or state level that can help facilitate healing. Sixth, the agency needs to utilize the best empirically and scientifically proven principles in screening, assessment and treatment. Seventh, training and workforce development is essential to ensure counselors have the education and continuing education necessary in trauma informed care. Education and training workshops are key in maintaining up to date skills and knowledge in helping others. The training, however, is not just shared with counselors and social workers, but also at lower levels within staff in how to deal with trauma and understand the nature of trauma with potential patients who enter the actual facility. Eighth, as with all training, monitoring and quality assurance is essential to confirm that principles, policies, procedures and trainings are carried out properly within the whole of the organization. This involves trauma informed principles that are incorporated into hiring, supervision, evaluation of staff, as well as working with staff and their own vicarious trauma and self care needs. Ninth, agencies obviously need the necessary financial budget to transform the facility to support the need of trauma clients, as well as paying for the necessary trainings. Finally, evaluation and feed back is essential in how the mission is being carried out. This involves evaluation from top to bottom and taking feed back from everyone to ensure the implementation of the program is successful or if needs any adjustments.
Conclusion
Many individuals unfortunately lack proper trauma care. The initial trauma is untreated, or the trauma is allowed to persist without proper care. Individuals feel like they become a number without a real advocate. Many feel the pain of having to re-tell their story over and over without any true treatment. Others feel they labeled and may flee any treatment, while others who seek treatment may not have access to quality care in trauma or not have access to it. Hence many individuals feel as if they are unseen or not heard, or feel unrecognized within their social group and the traumas they collectively face.
Trauma informed care looks to acknowledge the reality of trauma in life for individuals within all cultural, social, religious and ethnic groups. It looks to implement mental health plans to help individuals heal from trauma and become healthy members of society. The need for trauma informed care and spotting trauma is essential in our society. So many suffer from trauma and when left untreated, these individuals can become a danger to themselves or others. Recognizing the necessity of trauma informed care is an answer to our mental health crisis itself.
AIHCP recognizes this important issue and offers a variety of mental health certifications, including in 2026, a trauma informed care certification for healthcare professionals. Please review AIHCP’s multiple certifications in behavioral health, as well as its Grief Counseling, Crisis Counseling, Stress Management and Anger Management programs.
Additional Blog
Sexual and Physical Abuse: Click here
Resource
SAMHSA. “Advanced Method-Trauma Informed Framework”. Access here
Additional Resources
AAP. “What is Trauma-Informed Care?” Access here
“Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters” Health Essentials. Cleveland Clinic. Access here
“What is Trauma-Informed Care?”. University of Buffalo. Access here
Psychological Recovery After Crisis
Psychological recovery after a trauma and crisis event can take weeks, months, or even years depending on the damage of the event to the person’s mental, emotional, physical, financial and social modes of existence. For some, pro long grief, or depression, or PTSD can become long term symptoms that require professional mental health services and long term care. For some, the acute phase of crisis hovers over the person and the person requires assistance to again find firm grounding. Most require basic psychological recovery that involves identifying the primary issues and needs of the person post disaster or traumatic event. Many people are resilient and may not suffer long term mental issues, but most still require help and aid. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network created an excellent CE course that discusses Psychological Recovery. Much of the information supplied is based on general psychological and professional application but the Network did an excellent job of organizing it. Bear in mind, like Psychological First Aid, Psychological Recovery services are not necessarily supplied by clinical licensed counselors or social workers, but can be given through unlicensed professionals who work in Human Services. Low tier entry level professionals with some academic and professional training can handle numerous cases that do no have pathology and help coach and teach individuals with basic mental health techniques to recover from acute crisis. This is the primary aim of Psychological Recovery within the area of Crisis Intervention. It looks to help individuals after traumatic event to find the resources and skills to move forward weeks or months after an event. It is less about pathology but more so about building resiliency and promoting teaching skills that can be taught by anyone in pastoral or unlicensed settings to help individuals grow after the event.
Helping individuals recover from a disaster or any traumatic event is key to a person’s resiliency to rebuild after the ashes and trauma. According to the Network, it looks to protect mental health and maintain it, enhance abilities to address needs, teach skills to solve problems and prevent maladaptive coping by encouraging positive coping. Like in Psychological First Aid, it focuses on the safety, calmness, self efficacy and connectedness the person possesses. Does the person feel safe after the event? Is the person calm and not exhibiting nervousness, or PTSD? Does the person portray self resiliency and ability to cope? Is the person connected to family or friends or have access to public and community resources? These are important questions and are essential when meeting with a client who is a victim of a disaster. Within any meeting though, it is important for the Crisis Intervention worker to understand nothing is a quick fix. There will be multiple issues and each session represents a chance to help the person meet their needs. It is not a mental health treatment but instead a mental coaching to help individuals get their lives back. Hence each session should teach a particular skill, make a plan and receive reports how those plans work.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network lays out various skills that are essential to help individuals get their lives back. Within the critical phase of information gathering, the Crisis Intervention worker needs to identify current needs of an individual, prioritize them and make a plan of action. Involved with this are skills that are taught to help meet each need and how to carry out that skill in everyday life. Upon completion of skill utilization, the client reports back a week a later with how things have improved or not improved. Upon this, plans can be troubleshot or retuned as well as other skills evaluated. It is important when implementing plans and teaching skills not to overload an already stressed person. Among some of the most important skills to help individuals includes rebuilding healthy connections, managing emotional reactions, promoting healthy thinking, encouraging positive activities and building problem skills. The Network presents in-depth modules on all five basic skills that help train crisis intervention workers better help individuals manage crisis and issues.
Bear in mind, when in crisis intervention, one may be helping individuals with a myriad of problems from what appears small to large. Some may be more emotionally distraught, physically hurt or others may be financially hurt, or still others may have lost a home. Others may have temporary problems that are causing current stress, while others may have longer lingering issues that take more time to fix. Some may be elderly with particular issues related to age, medication, or connection with others, while others may be children or adolescents who are suffering from trauma of the event, or even having issues reconnecting at school. The combination of possible issues and problems faced by survivors of disaster or experienced trauma and crisis are endless and each one requires attention and rapport with the client. We will take a closer look at the 5 helping skills emphasized by the Network.
One of the most basic and important skills in counseling is problem solving. We have discussed in numerous blogs the importance of basic problem solving skills in counseling and how to implement them. In Crisis Intervention work, problem solving while simple in theory is difficult in application because problems are very real and affect people in real life. They just do not go away or vanish but have real affects on a person’s whole self and how they function. Problems are not so much objectively the issue, but more so, how the person subjectively views them. If the stressors of the problem seem overwhelming, then the Crisis Intervention worker needs to help the person discover the tools to make it less daunting. With any problems, it is important to identify and label them. This helps organize the issue and see how it is effecting the situation. When discussing, it is important to weed out problems that are not the problem of the person or problems that the person cannot control. In addition, it is important to set goals to counter the problem and brainstorm together some options to achieve that goal. Together, best solutions are chosen and then they are implemented. Upon return visit, crisis intervention worker and the survivor can discuss what worked, what did not and overall trouble shoot and analyze why something worked or did not work. Ultimately it is important to instill hope into the person and grant them again power and control over the situation so that they can again become resilient forces in their own life.
Another skill, according to the Network, is rebuilding healthy connections. Individuals or survivors after a crisis such as a hurricane or tornado or earthquake can lose many things in life including a home. Those who are displaced need connections to find firm ground again. It is hence important to help survivors review their connections and make a connection tree listing individuals they know and what each person means to them. The crisis intervention worker can then help the person identify best suited individuals that can offer immediate help while also crossing off those who are unable to help or may not be the best influence in the given moment. Helping the person reconnect with these resources can help individuals possibly find transportation, a place to temporarily stay, or find emotional support. Sometimes, these connections may not be immediate but could also be fellow survivors or even agencies that can better alleviate the situation.
The Network also discusses the importance of the skill of managing emotions. Numerous individuals after trauma have negative reactions and affective responses to triggers that may remind them about the disaster or traumatic event. For example, a boy who experienced a tornado, may begin to feel uneasy, nervous, or fearful when a strong wind blows outside. This can trigger a memory associated with strong winds of the tornado. Or a small child may become fearful if the lights go out because the lights went out when the hurricane struck before. The mind associates and ties together negative events with circumstances that by themselves are quite innocent. This can trigger a response. Of course, in PTSD, this trigger is far more extensive due to trauma and the inability of the brain to properly process and file the memory but many after an acute crisis experience initial negative affective responses to neutral occurrences that happened during the disaster. It is important for the crisis worker to help these individuals label the emotions they feel with the trigger and cognitively reframe the situation. This types of CBT can help individuals re-understand the emotion and where it is coming from and better react when the similar triggers appear. In addition, sometimes, individuals may need to utilize meditation, breathing, or other grounding techniques to help calm themselves when a trigger appears that reminds them of the disaster. For most survivors, overtime, the trigger becomes more and more numb as one perceives no negative consequences tied to the howl of the wind or lights going out. In the meantime, it is important to help especially children how to cope, react and deal with triggers associated with disaster.
While emotions can need managed, thoughts can also be an issue. While some may deal with affective issues, others may walk away from the disaster with cognitive distortions and negative thinking. The Network proposes instilling in individuals healthy thinking. Healthy thinking is also a cognitive process where not only emotions are reanalyzed but also thoughts. Healthy thinking looks at negative thoughts associated with the event. Many survivors may have negative thoughts about how they acted, what they did or did not do, or who they are blaming for the crisis. These thoughts can derail the healing process because the thoughts are tied with anger, shame, guilt, or sadness. Sometimes, the thoughts are totally untrue but perceived as true to the person. Crisis Intervention workers need to weed through the multiple thoughts the person may have about the event and their participation in it. Some may feel it is their fault, or if they did this or that, it would not have been so bad, or others may feel ashamed for not doing more. It is important to identify unhealthy and untrue thoughts about the event and analyze them and reframe them with the reality of the situation. This can help the person move forward and focus on more healthy thoughts that are conducive for the future. Instead of thoughts of despair, thoughts are transformed into thoughts of hope that will focus on fixing the situation in the present instead of lamenting about it in the past.
The final skill that can be important for some individuals is helping them again live a normal life through positive activities that again give joy. This does not mean one immediately celebrates after a house is destroyed but it means gradually, individuals plan to give self care, or find connections or positive things to do that take the mind off the trauma and event. Many times children are also distraught because regular events no longer occur after the disaster due to limitations of recovery. Helping children find a regular routine is key but also giving them, and oneself even, joy is also key. As rebuilding one’s life continues, it is important to not only find silver linings and hope, but again to do something that was once fun, or even do something different. Whether it is family game night, or going out to eat, or taking a brisk walk, or working less and spending more time with the family, it is important to find time to again live. Crisis Intervention workers can help survivors find the importance in this and help them identify and schedule something within the week, even if one thing, to do within their means.
Conclusion
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers a various CE courses that can help those in Crisis. AIHCP also offers a Crisis Intervention Specialist Certification and individual CE courses. It is important to be trained, even at lower tier levels, to help survivors, victims and individuals in crisis again find firm ground. Not all cases will involve drastic mental health counseling or involve PTSD, but many will be merely individuals trying to find themselves again after a disaster with multiple basic needs and concerns but who are overwhelmed with the event and secondary stressors. Crisis Intervention workers, counselors, social workers, chaplains and other Human Service Professionals can help individuals again find joy in life and the resiliency to rebuild what was lost.
Please review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Certification. Upon completion of the seven core courses, one can apply for certification. The program is online and independent study with mentorship as needed and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.
Additional Resources
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Access here
Swaim, E (2022). “7 Reminders to Carry with You on Your Trauma Recovery Journey”. Healthline. Access here
“Resources on trauma and healing, including a guide inspired by ‘The Color Purple’”. APA. Access here
“Recovering Emotionally After a Disaster”. American Red Cross. Access here
What is Dissociation?
Exploring the Mind: Understanding the Phenomenon of Dissociation
Dissociation is a complex psychological phenomenon that involves a disconnection from reality, often as a coping mechanism for overwhelming stress or trauma. This article explores the various aspects of dissociation, including its impact on the mind-body connection, spiritual awakening, and healing. By delving into the spiritual aspect of dissociation and its linkages to personal growth, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of this intriguing phenomenon.
Key Takeaways
- Dissociation is a coping mechanism for overwhelming stress or trauma, leading to disconnection from reality.
- Dissociation can act as a catalyst for spiritual awakening, prompting individuals to question their reality and seek answers beyond the physical world.
- Dissociation can create an opportunity for individuals to release past traumas and access a deeper sense of self.
- There is a complex and intricate link between dissociation and spiritual insights, leading to personal growth and transformation.
Understanding Dissociation
What Is Dissociation?
Dissociation is a psychological coping mechanism that activates when an individual is faced with overwhelming stress or trauma. It represents a disconnection from reality, often resulting in disruptions to memory, emotions, and identity.
Common symptoms of dissociation include:
- Feeling as though one is in a trance or daydream
- Memory loss or difficulty with recall
- A sense of detachment from oneself or the environment
- Emotional numbness or being overwhelmed
- Loss of control over emotions
- Sensory disconnection, such as impaired touch or vision
Dissociation serves as a protective barrier, allowing individuals to distance themselves from distressing experiences. While it can be a temporary refuge, persistent dissociative states may require professional intervention to address underlying issues and restore a sense of reality.
Grounding Oneself
One who experiences dissociation may sometimes try to calm oneself due to the manifested trigger. There are multiple ways one can seek grounding techniques to keep oneself from dissociating from reality. Part of grounding can include touching something in the present moment, such as the soft side of a chair, or rubbing one’s feet against the carpet. This type of physical grounding is only one strategy, others also include mental grounding where one utilizes mentally stimulating thoughts such as counting, recalling memories, or other visual affects. Emotional grounding can also be employed with breathing exercises.
It is sometimes extremely important to be able to ground oneself because sometimes if one dissociates, one can harm oneself or others due to lack of attention to driving, or moving around in public. This can lead to accidents, falling, or injuring oneself.
If experiencing these types of issues, contact a mental health professional.
Manifestation of Dissociation
Dissociation is a complex phenomenon that presents itself in various forms, often as a psychological defense mechanism in response to trauma. Symptoms can range from mild detachment to severe disconnection from reality, impacting an individual’s daily functioning and sense of self.
- Feeling as though one is in a trance or daydream
- Experiencing memory loss or difficulty with recall
- Sensing a detachment from oneself or surroundings
- Encountering overwhelming emotions or emotional numbness
- Challenges in controlling emotions
- Disconnection from sensory experiences, such as touch or sight
Dissociation serves as a coping strategy, allowing individuals to distance themselves from extreme stress or traumatic events. This disconnection can be both protective and disruptive, altering one’s perception of reality and interaction with the world.
While the manifestations of dissociation are diverse, they often signal an underlying need for healing and support. Recognizing these signs is the first step towards understanding and addressing the root causes of dissociative experiences.
In addition, the manifestation of this state can lead to isolation, addictions and other ways to help cope with it. It is important to recognize it and seek counseling and help to prevent it from possibly harming oneself.
Types of Dissociative States
Dissociative states are complex phenomena that can be categorized into three primary types: depersonalization, derealization, and dissociative amnesia. Depersonalization involves a sense of detachment from oneself, often described as feeling like an outside observer of one’s own body or thoughts. Derealization is characterized by a feeling of unreality or detachment from the environment, making the world seem foggy or dreamlike. Lastly, dissociative amnesia pertains to gaps in memory for personal information, sometimes specific to traumatic events.
- Depersonalization: Detachment from self
- Derealization: Detachment from environment
- Dissociative Amnesia: Memory gaps
Each type of dissociative state represents a unique way in which the mind copes with stress or trauma. While they can be unsettling, understanding these states is crucial for effective treatment and personal growth.
It’s important to recognize that these states can occur independently or concurrently, and their manifestation can vary greatly among individuals. The experience of dissociation can be transient or part of a more chronic condition, such as dissociative identity disorder. Identifying the type of dissociative state is a critical step in addressing the underlying issues and moving towards healing.
Dissociative states can include according to the DSM-5 various levels of severity. It can include an amnesia state that is simple to complex, a de-attachment state from self or environment or multiple personalities in its most severe form.
Dissociation and the Mind-Body Connection
Impact on Consciousness
Dissociation profoundly affects the landscape of consciousness, often leading to a disruption in the normal integration of thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The alteration in consciousness can range from mild detachment to a more severe disconnection from reality.
- The default mode network, often associated with self-referential thoughts, is impacted during dissociative states.
- Studies using fMRI have shown changes in the prefrontal parietal network, which is crucial for attention and working memory.
- Consciousness supporting networks, including the anterior and posterior cortex, exhibit distinct patterns during dissociative episodes.
Dissociation challenges our understanding of consciousness, revealing the intricate workings of the mind and the delicate balance that sustains our sense of self and reality.
The neural correlates of consciousness, such as the default mode network and the prefrontal parietal network, are key areas of study to unravel the mysteries of dissociation. By examining the changes in these networks, researchers can gain insights into the mechanisms that underlie altered states of consciousness.
Spiritual Awakening
Spiritual awakening is often described as a profound shift in consciousness, where one experiences a deep connection with the essence of being and a recognition of a more expansive reality. It is a transformative journey that can lead to a profound understanding of oneself and the universe.
- A shift in one’s perspective on life
- Detachment from material possessions and ego
- Increased compassion and empathy towards others
- A feeling of oneness with the universe
- A deepened sense of intuition and spiritual connection
While the path to spiritual awakening can be enlightening, it may also bring about challenges such as feelings of alienation or difficulty integrating experiences into everyday life. Nonetheless, the journey is often seen as a pivotal moment in personal growth and self-discovery.
The process of awakening can be spontaneous or induced by practices like meditation. It is marked by a series of internal changes:
- A reevaluation of personal values and beliefs
- An enhanced awareness of life’s interconnectedness
- A pursuit of deeper meaning and purpose beyond the self
Link to Personal Growth
The concept of dissociation, often perceived as a detachment from reality, can paradoxically serve as a bridge to personal growth. Dissociation provides a unique space for reflection and self-exploration, allowing individuals to step back from the immediacy of their experiences and view their lives from a new perspective. This detachment can lead to a deeper understanding of one’s self and the challenges faced, fostering a sense of competence and efficacy.
In the realm of personal development, dissociation can be a catalyst for change, offering an opportunity to reassess one’s goals and values without the interference of external pressures.
The process of personal growth through dissociation can be outlined in the following steps:
- Recognizing the occurrence of dissociative states.
- Understanding the triggers and underlying emotions.
- Utilizing the reflective space provided by dissociation to gain insights.
- Integrating these insights into daily life to foster resilience and adaptability.
This transformative journey can lead to an increase in intrinsic motivation, self-directed learning, and ultimately, a more profound sense of self-realization.
Healing and Transformation
Releasing Past Traumas
Dissociation offers a unique pathway for individuals to confront and release past traumas, paving the way to rediscover a more authentic self. This process often involves delving into the unconscious mind, where unresolved emotions and memories reside. By accessing these hidden parts of the psyche, one can begin the journey of healing and transformation.
Dissociation can serve as a bridge to personal growth, allowing for a re-examination of beliefs and identity. It is in this introspective space that many find the strength to let go of the pain that has held them back.
To facilitate this healing, certain practices can be adopted:
- Breathwork: Engage in breathing exercises to help regulate emotions and achieve a sense of calm.
- Creative expression: Utilize art, music, or writing as outlets for emotional release and self-discovery.
- Mindfulness: Practice being present in the moment to reconnect with oneself and the environment.
While the journey through dissociation can be disorienting, it ultimately can lead to a profound spiritual awakening and a renewed search for meaning and purpose in life.
Accessing Deeper Self
In the journey of healing and transformation, dissociation can serve as a gateway to accessing deeper levels of the self. This process often involves delving into the unconscious mind, where dormant emotions and memories reside. By confronting and releasing these suppressed elements, individuals may experience a profound shift in their sense of identity and consciousness.
- Exploration of beliefs and identity questioning
- Release of past traumas
- Unlocking of unconscious pathways
- Potential for spiritual awakening
The act of accessing one’s deeper self is not just about self-discovery; it’s about reconstructing the very fabric of one’s being from the inside out.
As individuals navigate through this transformative phase, they may find themselves on the precipice of a spiritual awakening. The sense of emptiness that once pervaded their existence begins to fill with a newfound purpose and connection to something greater. This spiritual dimension adds a rich layer to the healing process, offering a sense of wholeness that transcends the individual experience.
Treatment
While coping involves grounding exercises, the best way to overcome and limit the dissociation is facing the trauma and understanding the triggers. Treatments include medications such as anti-psychotics, anxiety reducing medications, anti depressants and sleep aids. Counseling can also help. Individuals can go through cognitive behavioral therapy to better understand and react to the issue when it occurs. One can also better learn to manage emotional reactions to triggers. EDMR can also help de-sensitive individuals to the triggers by discussing and visualizing them in a safe place with a trained mental health professional.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the phenomenon of dissociation is a complex and multifaceted coping mechanism that the brain initiates in response to overwhelming stress or trauma. It manifests in various forms, affecting memory, emotions, and identity. The three types of dissociative states, depersonalization, derealization, and dissociative amnesia, present unique challenges for individuals experiencing dissociation. Additionally, dissociation may trigger spiritual awakening, leading individuals to question their reality and seek answers beyond the physical world. This exploration of dissociation and its potential connection to spiritual awakening provides valuable insights into the intricate workings of the human mind and the profound impact of coping mechanisms on personal growth and transformation. It is also important to understand ways to cope with it but also treat it to prevent serious injury or further pathological onset. While it can help us identify past trauma, it must also be identified and worked on to prevent further issues.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling, Crisis Intervention and other mental health certification programs. Licensed professional counselors or human service professionals can enhance their professional expertise with AIHCP’s certifications. The programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dissociation and how does it manifest?
Dissociation refers to a coping mechanism that the brain initiates when dealing with overwhelming stress or anxiety, leading to disconnection from reality. It can manifest in various forms, such as problems with memory, emotions, and identity.
What are the types of dissociative states?
There are three types of dissociative states, including depersonalization, derealization, and dissociative amnesia. Depersonalization: A person feels disconnected from themselves, as if they are watching themselves from a distance.
How does dissociation impact consciousness?
Dissociation causes a split between an individual’s mind and body. In a dissociative episode, an individual might feel like they are watching themselves from a distance, leading to a sense of detachment from their surroundings.
Is dissociation linked to spiritual awakening?
Yes, dissociation can act as a catalyst for spiritual awakening, prompting individuals to question their reality and seek answers that extend beyond the physical world.
How can dissociation lead to personal growth?
Dissociation can create an opportunity for individuals to explore their beliefs and question their identity. This self-reflection can lead to a spiritual awakening as the individual begins to search for meaning and purpose.
What is the relationship between dissociation and reality?
Dissociation is often a response to traumatic experiences, leading individuals to disconnect from reality as a coping mechanism. It can be characterized by feelings of being detached or disoriented and can lead to conditions like dissociative identity disorder.
How can spiritual insights help heal trauma-induced dissociation?
Spiritual insights can broaden one’s consciousness and deepen one’s understanding of life’s interconnectedness, potentially aiding in the healing of trauma-induced dissociation.
What are ways to practice spiritual growth while dissociating?
Embracing spiritual awakening, seeking meaning and purpose, and accessing deeper levels of consciousness are ways to practice spiritual growth while dissociating.