Trauma
What is trauma?
Trauma is anything threatening or harmful that overwhelms a person’s body or mind. Trauma can be caused by one terrible event or a lasting problem that makes a person feel unsafe, hurt, or deeply upset. A few examples of trauma are abuse, neglect, violence, serious accidents, natural disasters, or the loss of someone close. How trauma affects a person can vary. Some people may just be upset briefly. Others may have long-term changes to their mental and physical health. Symptoms of trauma may include anxiety, sleep problems, intrusive memories, and more. How old a person is, who is there to support them, and whether the threat is actually gone are all factors that can change how a person responds to a traumatic event.
How common is it?
Traumatic experiences are common in both childhood and adulthood. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults and approximately 62% of U.S. adolescents experience at least one traumatic event. However, experiencing trauma does not necessarily lead to a mental health condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). About 6% of U.S. adults develop PTSD at some point in their lives. Experiences and their effects are not distributed equally. Exposure and its effects also vary across individuals and communities because of differences in life experiences, social conditions, and access to safety and support.
Is trauma treatable?
People can recover from trauma, although healing may look different for everyone. When trauma-related difficulties continue long term or impact daily life, evidence-based treatment can help. Trauma-focused approaches may help people process traumatic memories, reduce avoidance and distress, rebuild a sense of safety, stay grounded, and strengthen coping skills. Evidence-based therapies include:
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): helps individuals process trauma, manage emotions, and build coping skills.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): helps people identify and change distressing beliefs connected to traumatic experiences.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): uses gradual, supported exposure to reduce fear and avoidance related to traumatic memories and reminders.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): helps people process distressing memories while using structured bilateral stimulation.
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET): helps people organize and process memories of repeated or multiple traumatic experiences.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP): supports young children and caregivers in restoring safety, attachment, and emotional regulation after trauma.
The most appropriate care depends on the person, the nature of the experience, and the difficulties they are facing. Treatment may involve different strategies and levels of support, and progress is not always linear. Effective care should be responsive to each person’s identity, preferences, needs, and lived experiences.
Where can I find the most up-to-date information on trauma?
The bottom line on trauma.
Traumatic experiences can take many forms and affect the mind, body, and relationships. Their effects vary from person to person: some lessen with time and support, while others persist and interfere with daily life. Not everyone develops PTSD or another mental health condition, and evidence-based treatment can reduce symptoms and support recovery.
Author: Alyssa Carrasco
Edited by: Brian Seip