What is trauma? What to know

June 30, 202507/04/2025

Psychological trauma is a response to an event that a person finds highly stressful, such as an experience in a war zone, a natural disaster, or an accident. Trauma can cause a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms.

Not everyone who experiences a stressful event will develop trauma. There are also various types of trauma. Some people will develop symptoms that resolve after a few weeks, while others will experience longer-term effects.

With treatment, people can address the root cause of the trauma and find constructive ways to manage their symptoms.

Types of trauma

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), trauma is “an emotional response to a terrible event,” such as an accident, rape, or a natural disaster.

People may experience trauma as a response to any event they find physically or emotionally threatening or harmful.

Trauma can cause a range of emotions both immediately after the event and in the long term. People may feel overwhelmed, helpless, or shocked and may have difficulty processing their experiences. Trauma can also cause physical symptoms.

Symptoms that persist and do not become less severe can indicate that the trauma has developed into a mental health condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

There are three main types of trauma:

Acute trauma: This results from a single stressful or dangerous event.
Chronic trauma: This results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events. Examples include cases of child abuse, bullying, or domestic violence.
Complex trauma: This results from exposure to multiple traumatic events.

Secondary trauma, or vicarious trauma, is another type that may occur. In this case, a person develops trauma symptoms due to close contact with someone who has experienced a traumatic event.

Family members, mental health professionals, and others who care for someone who has experienced a traumatic event may be at risk of vicarious trauma. The symptoms may be similar to those of PTSD.

Symptoms of trauma

The symptoms of trauma can range from mild to severe. Many factors determine how a traumatic event affects a person, including:

personal characteristics
previous exposure to traumatic events
whether the person has a strong support system
the type and characteristics of the event or events

Emotional and psychological responses

A person who has been through trauma may experience:

denial
anger
fear
sadness
shame
confusion
anxiety

They may have emotional outbursts, find it difficult to regulate their emotions, or withdraw from others. People may also experience flashbacks, during which they relive the traumatic event in their mind, or nightmares.

Physical responses

Along with an emotional reaction, trauma can cause physical symptoms such as:

headaches
digestive symptoms
fatigue
racing heart
sweating
jumpiness

Sometimes, a person will also experience hyperarousal, which is a constant state of alertness. This may make it difficult for them to sleep.

People may go on to develop other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and substance misuse problems.

Traumatic experiences

According to World Health Organization research from 2017, about 70% of people worldwide may experience a traumatic event at some point in life. The charity Mind in the United Kingdom lists the following potential causes of trauma:

bullying
harassment
physical, psychological, or sexual abuse
sexual assault
traffic collisions
childbirth
life threatening health conditions
the sudden loss of a loved one
an attack
a kidnapping
acts of terrorism
natural disasters
war

A traumatic event may be isolated, or a person may experience repeated, ongoing traumatic events. A person can also experience trauma after witnessing something traumatic that happens to someone else.

PTSD

PTSD develops when the symptoms of trauma persist or worsen for at least a month. PTSD is distressing and can interfere with a person’s daily life and relationships.

Symptoms include severe anxiety, flashbacks, and persistent memories of the event. People will also show avoidance behaviors, such as trying to avoid thinking about the traumatic event, avoiding the place where it occurred, and avoiding its triggers.

PTSD may last for years, although treatment can help people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

The U.K. charity Mind suggests that the following factors may increase the risk of PTSD:

previous trauma
physical pain or injury
lack of support after the trauma
other stressors that occur at the same time, such as financial difficulty
previous anxiety or depression

Most people who experience a traumatic event do not develop PTSD. Research suggests that the lifetime prevalence of PTSD is between 6.1% and 9.2%.

Treatments for trauma

Several treatments can help people who are experiencing trauma or PTSD cope with their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Doctors will select a treatment that best suits a person’s situation.

Medications may help a person manage symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Doctors may suggest selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline (Zoloft) or paroxetine (Paxil).

Therapy is a preferred treatment for trauma. People can work with a therapist who has experience handling trauma. Beneficial types of therapy may include:

When to seek help

People who experience persistent or severe symptoms of trauma should seek help from a mental health professional. It is especially important to seek help if the trauma symptoms interfere with a person’s daily functioning or relationships with others.

Even those with mild symptoms can feel better once they talk with someone.

Summary

Trauma centers are facilities that treat severely injured or critically ill individuals.

Although some states adopt a three-tier scale of trauma levels, others acknowledge five different levels of trauma centers.

Level 1 and 2 trauma centers usually provide more comprehensive care than the lower levels. However, the lower level centers are still able to evaluate and stabilize people, allowing staff to transfer them to higher level centers if necessary.

Conclusion

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