A traumatic event involves a single experience, or an enduring or repeating event or events that completely overwhelm our ability to cope or integrate the ideas and emotions involved with that experience.
Think of Computers – Computers and humans are very alike. Computers hold a lot of information and so do we humans. Computers have a filing system that keeps documents stored away in defined locations. When files are saved and stored away the computer is generally cooperative, however, when a document holding information is not stored away it can annoyingly appear in the front of the screen with the request to find a location for it. Unless a location is found it will annoyingly interrupt and hinder any other work you may be doing.
We humans also receive and compartmentalise information. We have a need to understand and extract meaning & significance from the information we receive and experiences we undergo before we can allocate a place in our system where the information belongs. When a storage place is allocated we tend to have peace of mind. However, when we have experienced something in our life (such as the abuse of an innocent or even the abuse of our own innocence or any other such difficulties) it is very difficult to understand and extract meaning & significance from it, and just like when a computer requests to find a file allocation for a document, a reminder will keep popping up annoyingly in our minds and hinder what we normally do until we allocate a resting place for that data.
Trauma can affect us in different ways:
- Emotionally – Grief, Depression. Feeling Overwhelmed
- Physically – Chest Pain, Difficulty Breathing, Nausea
- Cognitively –Nightmares, Intrusive Thoughts, Dissociation
- Behavioural – Withdrawal, Pacing, Acting out, Substance abuse, Suicidal thoughts
If you believe you are experiencing the effects of Trauma it’s beneficial to reach out for assistance.
There is an answer for you!
Call a local Counsellor or see your GP for support.
Search for a counsellor near you: www.theaca.net.au
If you are having suicidal thoughts right now, call LIFELINE on 13 11 14
Article by Vivian Biancardi Cert.IV (Youth work), grad Cert (CFT), Cert IV.TAE, CCAA Grad Member
Image courtesy of: www.freedigitaliphotos.net/ Business Woman Worried” by Ambro
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