What is trauma?

What is Trauma?

The term “trauma” is used in many context nowadays. A definition The Trauma Centre Trauma often use for a trauma response is an emotional response to a terrible event or threat, for example an accident, sexual violence, natural disaster, death or serious injury, that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope.

The standard DSM-5 definition (Diagnotics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders nr 5) for trauma is:

Exposure to an actual or threatened a) Death b) Serious injury c) Sexual Violation in one of the following ways

1) Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)

2) Witnessing, in person, the traumatic event(s) as they occurred to others

3) learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend; death, violent or accidental injury

4) experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s).

A traumatic experience could be defined as:

“an emotional response to a terrible event or threat, for example an accident, sexual violence, natural disaster, death or serious injury, that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope.”

What is Trauma ?

What are the different types of trauma?

Single trauma

One sudden, unexpected incident

Multiple trauma

• More than one traumatic incident
• Occurs within a short space of time

For example a person has been in a car accident and then is a victim of crime shortly thereafter

Complex trauma

• Complex trauma is an umbrella term encompassing prolonged and repeated harmful events that typically occur in the interpersonal sphere.
• Occurs over a long period where the perpetrator is known to the victim or under control his/her control

For example a person in a domestic violence relationship

Continuous trauma

• Exposure to ongoing trauma
• Living in constant threat of danger and violence

For example living in a gang controlled area or war zone