Traumatic Stress Studies Division

Common Reactions to Trauma

Part 1

A trauma is an emotional shock. You are feeling very distressed right now and let's discuss the reactions that you are having because of the trauma. There are common reactions to traumatic experiences, although each person responds in her/his own unique way. You may find that you have experienced many of these reactions. You are also likely to find out that you have experienced or are experiencing some of these reactions more intensely than others.

1. The primary reactions people experience after a trauma are fear and anxiety. Sometimes your feelings of anxiety may be a result of being reminded of the trauma; at other times they may feel to you as if they come out of the blue. The feelings of anxiety and fear that you are experiencing can be understood as reactions to a dangerous and life-threatening situation. You may experience changes in your body, your feelings, and your thoughts because your view of the world and your perception about your safety have changed as a result of the trauma.

   Certain triggers and cues may remind you of the trauma and activate your fears. These triggers may be certain times of the day, certain places, men approaching you, an argument with someone you care about, a certain smell, or a noise. Typically, after a trauma, fear and anxiety are experienced in two primary ways:

   1. continuing to re-experience memories of the trauma
   2. feeling aroused and jumpy

   A common strategy people use to alleviate the anxiety and distress associated with a trauma is to try to avoid places, people, or other reminders of the trauma or to try to distract themselves. I want you to pay attention to the changes that you are experiencing in your body, your feelings, and thoughts that have resulted from the trauma.

2. People who have been traumatized often re-experience the trauma. You may find that you are having flashbacks when visual pictures of the assailant's face or some other aspect of the trauma suddenly pops into your mind. Sometimes the flashback may be so vivid that you might feel as if the trauma is actually occurring again. These experiences are intrusive, and you probably feel that you don't have any control over what you are feeling, thinking, and experiencing during the day or at night.

   You may also find that you are re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares. You may also re-experience the trauma emotionally or cognitively without having a flashback or nightmare.

3. You may also find that you are having trouble concentrating. This is another common experience that results from a trauma. It is frustrating and upsetting to be unable to concentrate, remember, and pay attention to what is going on around you. This experience also leads to a feeling that you are not in control of your mind or a feeling that you are going crazy. It is important to remember that these reactions are temporary. Difficulties concentrating are due to intrusive and distressing feelings and memories about the trauma. In an attempt to understand and digest what happened to you, your mind is constantly going over this material, bringing it back up, chewing on it, and trying to digest it.

4. Another common reaction to trauma is arousal; that is, agitation, feeling jittery, feeling overly alert, trembling, being easily startled, and having trouble sleeping.

   Feeling tense and jumpy all the time may also lead to feelings of irritability, especially if you are not getting enough sleep. These changes in your body are the result of fear. Animals and people have several potential reactions to being startled, traumatized, or threatened. One reaction to danger is to freeze. You may have seen a cat that is being approached by a dog crouch down and be very still when it is afraid. A second possible reaction to being threatened is to run away or flee. A third reaction is to fight. The fleeing or fighting responses require a burst of adrenaline to mobilize your body and help it respond adequately to a dangerous situation.

   As a result of the trauma, you have realized that there is danger in the world and you want to be ready for it. Your body is in a constant state of preparedness and arousal, so you can feel pumped and ready to respond immediately to a dangerous situation.