What exactly is trauma?

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Trauma is the debilitating energy frequency we carry in our nervous system after experiencing an out-of-control, deeply disturbing or life-threatening violation of our body/mind/spirit complex.

The trauma-based experience automatically creates a pathway in the nervous system that runs much like a film loop; If that film loop is not re-routed in the nervous system, that individual will re-experience the original trauma - in varying degrees of intensity - when triggered by external events that remind them, even remotely, of the original traumatic event. In Western medicine, this condition is referred to as "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" or PTSD.

Before March 2019, it was estimated that approximately 85% of the world's population suffered from PTSD. Today, it is generally agreed that 100% of the world's population have now been deeply traumatized due to ongoing global events.

Trauma can also result after experiencing a life-threatening or chronic disease.

This is not age-specific. Acute, chronic (ongoing), and complex (multiple instances) trauma are the biggest underlying causes of most physical, psychological and emotional disease that affects the majority of the world's 7.9 billion inhabitants.

There are over 150 clinically diagnosed forms of child, adolescent and adult trauma, including "witnessing a global pandemic", among many others. On a Hero’s Journey (OAHJ) is here to offer hope - and real trauma healing solutions, as well as to spread the little-known awareness that trauma CAN be healed - on a permanent basis - with one of several already existing, scientifically-proven trauma healing modalities, represented by Healers from all over the world, accessible to you here and now.

Trauma Types, Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

A dangerous or life-threatening experience may become a traumatic event for a child, adolescent or adult.

The individual may see the event as an intense threat to his or her safety and will typically experience a high level of fear or helplessness. Whether they are experiencing it as a child, adolescent or adult may not necessarily affect the level of the threat. It will, however, dictate the approach that individual will need to take to heal that trauma as each requires a different approach.

Trauma may result from a wide range of events, including accidents and natural disasters, or may be caused by exposure — as a victim or a witness — to community violence, domestic violence, sexual abuse, terrorist attacks o several other causes.

Clinically diagnosed forms of trauma include the following:

Physical, sexual or emotional abuse; psychological abuse or maltreatment, including mass manipulation of the human psyche; adult, adolescent, child, infant or senior abuse or neglect; historical, inter-generational, vicarious or system-induced trauma and re- traumatization including surviving a pandemic or health threat imposed by one’s ruling government; relationship trauma, including divorce, separation or the death of a life partner or spouse; basic survival or financial trauma; a serious accident, illness or medical procedure or procedures; being a victim or witness of domestic, community, workplace, political, community or school violence; a victim of bullying or threatening one's life, family or livelihood; natural or man-made disaster, including witnessing  and being a victim of a global pandemic; war, terrorism or military trauma; extreme personal or inter-personal violence, including exposure to homicide, suicide or other extreme events; forcible adult, child or infant displacement; traumatic grief or separation from a loved one or loved ones; and any type of physical, emotional or psychological trauma not listed above.

People who experience a highly stressful event may have trouble returning to a normal state of mind afterwards. In some cases, they develop a mental health disorder related to the experience. This is known as a “trauma disorder”, and there are 7 different types:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD);

  • Acute Stress Disorder (ASD);

  • Secondhand Trauma;

  • Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD);

  • Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED);

  • Adjustment Disorders;

  • Other and Unspecified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is one of the most well-known trauma disorders. Now, having gone through a global pandemic, it is estimated to have affect nearly 100% of the Earth’s population. Prior to the pandemic, it is safe to say that at least 80% of the world’s population suffered traumatic events every year.

Individuals develop PTSD following a traumatic event.   While it’s common for initial symptoms to begin in the days following a traumatic event, symptoms can even begin to surface months later. Symptoms can be grouped into four categories:

  • Intrusive thoughts about the event, including nightmares and flashbacks;

  • Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the trauma;

  • Behavioral changes such as insomnia, withdrawing from loved ones, and engaging in reckless or self-destructive behaviors;

  • Cognitive disturbances like irritability, negative thoughts about self or others, and fear/paranoia.

Complex PTSD

When individuals are exposed to repeated or prolonged trauma, such as childhood abuse, they develop a slightly different condition known as complex PTSD (C-PTSD). This shares many similarities to post-traumatic stress disorder, but also has some unique symptoms including:

  • Poor emotional regulation, which manifests as outbursts of extreme emotions like rage and depression

  • Negative view of self

  • Trouble forming healthy relationships

  • Behavioural difficulties like substance abuse, impulsivity, and self-destructive actions

  • Detaching from self (depersonalization) or reality (derealization)

  • Forgetting the trauma

  • Losing core values and beliefs

Although some mental health professionals treat complex PTSD as a distinct condition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) categorizes the symptoms under PTSD.

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

Acute stress disorder is very similar to PTSD, but is shorter in duration. ASD symptoms develop immediately after a traumatic event and last three days to one month. If symptoms persist beyond a month, the individual has developed PTSD.

Secondhand Trauma

Secondhand trauma is also known as trauma exposure response or secondary traumatic stress disorder. It results from exposure to the firsthand trauma of other people. Symptoms of secondary traumatic stress include:

  • A sense of hopelessness or helplessness

  • Feeling like you can never do enough to help

  • Hypervigilance

  • Guilt

  • Fear

  • Anger

  • Negativity/cynicism

  • Chronic fatigue

Secondhand trauma can happen to anyone, but it commonly affects professionals who work with trauma victims such as counselors, social workers, first responders, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

Reactive attachment disorder occurs in children who cannot form stable attachments to their caregivers. If a child’s basic needs are not met or they are frequently placed with new caregivers, they are at increased risk of developing RAD. Symptoms may include:

  • Emotional withdrawal or inhibition

  • Lack of response to comfort from caregivers

  • Impaired emotional response to others

  • Limited ability to experience positive emotions

  • Episodes of irritability, sadness, or fearfulness, often without cause

Although rare, this condition can be devastating to a child’s normal development and may affect their lives into adulthood. However, treatment can help.

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED)

Children who were unable to form healthy attachments to their caregivers may develop disinhibited social engagement disorder instead of reactive attachment disorder. While these two conditions have the same roots, symptoms are completely different.

DSED causes children to exhibit culturally inappropriate behaviour. This often takes the form of familiarity with strangers. Children with DSED feel no fear around strangers, and may even be comfortable getting into a car with someone they’ve just met. This disorder poses a serious threat to safety. Caregivers should seek immediate treatment for a child who displays this kind of behaviour.

Adjustment Disorders

Adjustment disorders are usually temporary and triggered by stressful life events such as divorce, job loss, being diagnosed with an illness, or losing a loved one. Some people are able to cope with the stress of these situations on their own, but others need help from a doctor or mental health professional.

Symptoms of an adjustment disorder may include:

  • Frequent sadness or hopelessness

  • Crying often

  • Withdrawing from family and friends

  • Not enjoying your favorite activities and hobbies anymore

  • Lack of appetite

  • Insomnia

  • Neglecting your responsibilities at home or work

  • Having trouble focusing

  • Difficulty functioning in daily life

  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

If you notice some of these symptoms following a major event, talk to your primary care provider or a mental health specialist. Treatment for adjustment disorders is usually temporary. However, for chronic life events like an ongoing illness or relationship problems, you might need long-term treatment.

Other and Unspecified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

You might have some of the symptoms of a trauma disorder, but not meet the criteria for one of the recognized types. Or, you might not be able to provide enough information for a specific diagnosis. In these cases, professionals often make a diagnosis of “other or unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder.”

This diagnosis is not any less serious than other trauma disorders. People with other or unspecified disorders have a legitimate mental health condition that is diminishing their quality of life. Treatment can help you gain control over your symptoms.

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders Treatment

If you are experiencing mental health symptoms that seem to be connected to trauma, or to stressful life events, the good news is, trauma can be healed. That is why we created On a Hero’s Journey, so you can connect with the trauma Healer that’s right for you.

Click on the link below and visit our Find a Healer page to search for a particular type of Healer or Modality from our steadily growing Database of Registered OAHJ Healers.

Alternatively, you can visit our Resources Centre to learn more about how trauma can be healed.