Trauma is a deep emotional response to a distressing or disturbing event. It can happen as the result of experiencing a single event, such as an accident or natural disaster, or from long-term exposure to harmful situations like abuse or neglect. Approximately two-thirds of American children experience a traumatic event by the time they turn 16 years old, and nearly 64% of American adults have reported experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). An ACE is a potentially traumatic event that can have long-term impacts. Trauma affects people in different ways and can have lasting effects on a person’s emotional, mental and even physical health.

Trauma can take many forms, and understanding the different types can help you identify if you or a loved one has been affected by trauma. Types of trauma can include:

• Acute trauma — Acute trauma happens from a single, intense event that can cause extreme distress and leave a lasting impact even though it only happened once. Acute trauma experiences can include:
• Car accident
• Assault
• Natural disaster
• Violent incident witness
• Chronic trauma — Chronic trauma occurs from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful or harmful situations, including:
• Long-term domestic violence
• Ongoing physical, emotional or sexual abuse
• Living in a war zone
• Complex trauma — Complex trauma occurs when a person is exposed to multiple traumatic events, including:
• Repeated abuse
• Childhood abuse
• Secondary trauma — Secondary trauma can occur when someone hears about or witnesses the trauma experienced by others. People who can experience secondary trauma can include:
• Therapists
• First responders
• Close friends or family of trauma survivors
• Developmental trauma — Developmental trauma happens during childhood and can be the result of:
• Neglect
• Abuse
• Abandonment
• Medical trauma — Medical trauma can be caused by experiencing life-threatening danger, intense pain or lack of control from experiencing a serious illness, injury or invasive medical procedure. However, just because a person has a medical treatment doesn’t mean they will experience medical trauma. Medical trauma can be due to medical interventions involving situations that cause a person to experience:
• Significant fear
• Helplessness
• Horror 

11 signs that you may have been affected by trauma

Trauma doesn’t always reveal itself immediately. Sometimes, the signs can be subtle or hard to connect to the original experience. Here are some signs you may be dealing with the effects of trauma:

• Emotional numbness — You may have a hard time experiencing emotions, or you may feel disconnected from others.
• Hyperarousal — You may be easily startled, be irritable or have trouble concentrating. This can cause you to have a hard time with:
• Focusing
• Sleeping
• Maintaining relationships
• Unexplained anxiety or panic attacks — Frequent anxiety or panic attacks that seem unrelated to your current life can be a sign of unresolved trauma. 
• Relationship difficulties — You may struggle with trust issues and fears of abandonment or have a hard time forming close connections. 
• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts — You may experience recurring and involuntary memories or flashbacks of a traumatic event. These can be distressing and make you feel out of control. 
• Avoidance — You may avoid certain locations, activities or social interactions that trigger memories of events.
• Negative self-beliefs — You may struggle with low self-esteem and/or feelings of shame or guilt. 
• Self-destructive behavior — Some people cope with trauma by turning to risky behaviors in an attempt to numb pain or regain a sense of control, including:
• Self-harm behaviors
• Substance use
• Reckless activities
• Chronic physical symptoms — You may experience physical symptoms without a medical cause. Trauma can cause you to experience:
• Headaches
• Stomach problems
• Chronic pains
• Difficulty concentrating — Trauma can cause you to have a hard time focusing or remembering things. You may also be easily distracted, forgetful or overwhelmed by daily tasks. 
• Aggression — You may be quick to anger or be irritable. This can make it hard for you to keep relationships and can lead to violence. 

What’s the difference between trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder?

While trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are related, they aren’t the same thing. 

Trauma refers to any deeply distressing experience. PTSD is a specific mental health condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. Approximately 6% of the U.S. population will develop PTSD. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will go on to develop PTSD. However, people who are at a higher risk for developing PTSD include those who:

• Have a history of mental health problems
• Have experienced multiple traumatic events
• Haven’t received adequate support after the traumatic event. 

If you believe you may have been affected by trauma, it’s important to seek help. A therapist can help provide you with support and guidance in coping with the challenges that are associated with trauma. There are also many resources available to help people who have been affected by trauma. 

How does trauma affect the brain?

Trauma can have a deep impact on the brain’s structure and function. This can lead to long-term effects on how you think, feel and behave. Here’s how trauma impacts the brain:

• Stress response system — When you experience trauma, your body’s fight-or-flight response kicks in. The amygdala, which processes emotions like fear, becomes overactive. This makes you more sensitive to perceived threats. Even in situations that aren’t dangerous, you can experience a heightened sense of anxiety or fear. 
• Memory processing — The hippocampus, which helps you form and organize memories, can be affected by trauma. Trauma can cause your memories to become fragmented or distorted. This can cause you to experience flashbacks or a hard time recalling details of the traumatic event. 
• Emotional regulation — Trauma can impact your prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for your ability to make decisions and regulate emotions. When trauma affects this part of your brain, it can make it harder for you to control emotions, leading to:
• Mood swings
• Anger
• Impulsive behaviors
• Sensory processing — Trauma can change the way your brain processes sensory information. Distressing memories or reactions can be triggered long after the event has passed due to certain:
• Sights
• Sounds
• Smells

Trauma can affect anyone and may not always be immediately visible. If you recognize any of the indicators that you or a loved one may have been affected by trauma, it’s important to seek help. Healing from trauma is possible. Reaching out for help is a brave and important step on your path to recovery. 

Finding strength and healing from trauma with Lightfully U

At Lightfully U, we understand the profound impact trauma can have on every aspect of your life, even when it’s not immediately visible. The signs of trauma can have a significant impact on your overall well-being in ways that can seem overwhelming. However, therapy is a powerful tool that can help you process these emotions and begin your healing journey. Our deeply compassionate experts offer whole-person-centered care for college students, focusing not just on your symptoms, but the root causes of your trauma. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, contact us. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.