Why Is The Understanding Of Trauma So Important For All? Part 2: Breaking the Cycle

Author: Justine East Campbell, Team Lead (Advocacy)

Overall, developing a trauma-informed home, school and workplace can assist with breaking the cycle of trauma within families (intergenerational trauma). With greater knowledge about trauma, what it is, how it develops, and how it can impact on mental and physical health across different environments,

this can help to reduce mental health stigma and improve the ability to cope with challenges.

How to Recognise Signs of Trauma

Common Signs in Children

Trauma signs and symptoms in children can vary and it’s important to consider a child’s experiences, level of and type of caregiving support, and their age and developmental stage since trauma can look different for each child (Trauma signs and symptoms, n.d.). 

Age Group	Signs
Preschool (2-5)	Separation anxiety, mood changes, eating and sleep disturbances, recreating trauma through play, developmental regression, aggressive behaviour.
Elementary (6-12)	Anxiety, fearfulness, separation anxiety, disruptive behaviour, difficulty concentrating, developmental regression.
Teens (13-18)	Depression, social withdrawal, risky behaviour, sleep disturbances, substance misuse, talking about trauma in detail.

Common Signs in Adults

Category	Signs
Emotional Signs	Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks Fear, anxiety, panic Avoidance of reminders Difficulty concentrating or memory problems Irritability, anger outbursts Emotional instability Self-blame, guilt, shame Hypervigilance Numbness, detachment Emotional shutdown Sadness, hopelessness, depression Social withdrawal Avoiding relationships or activities previously enjoyed
Behavioural Signs	Avoidance of reminders Social withdrawal Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or excessive sleeping) Appetite changes Increased substance use Self-harming behaviours Aggressive or impulsive behaviours Difficulty trusting others Reckless or risky behaviours Problems with daily functioning (work, school, personal responsibilities)
Physical Signs	Fatigue Sleep disturbances Muscle tension Chronic pain Headaches, migraines Gastrointestinal issues (stomachaches, nausea, IBS) Dizziness, lightheadedness Increased heart rate Heart palpitations, chest discomfort Shortness of breath Hyperventilation, difficulty breathing

Common Signs in the Elderly

Trauma signs in the elderly are similar to the signs in adults but the elderly are especially vulnerable to high rates of physical, mental, and cognitive decline and signs can often be mistaken for Alzheimers and Dementia and other age-related conditions and they can co-occur with these conditions, which can make them harder to spot. Seniors are at risk of experiencing new trauma, but they also may struggle more with past traumas. Many older adults see a reappearance of trauma symptoms as they age, which may occur due to life transitions that happen at this stage. For example, retirement can greatly change lifestyle and daily routine and this sudden change can be disruptive to one’s mental health. The loss of independence that commonly occurs with age can also be triggering.

Misconceptions about Trauma and Its Symptoms

1. Myth 1: If you’ve experienced a traumatic event, you have PTSD

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will have PTSD. It depends on the support and help they receive and if it’s received quickly or not and a person’s own resiliency.

2. Myth 2: Traumatic events have to involve death

There is no single definition for a traumatic event because it varies for each person experiencing the event and their reaction to it. Death is a common contributor to trauma, but not everyone will be traumatised by it. Other common examples of traumatic events include being robbed, seeing violence, and experiencing neglect and sexual abuse.

3. Myth 3: Trauma has to happen to you directly.

Trauma doesn’t have to be experienced first-hand for someone to be negatively affected. “Vicarious” or “secondary” trauma refers to a person experiencing trauma due to repeated exposures to other people’s trauma. For example, by witnessing the effects of disasters or hearing about graphic details of someone else’s adversity. Mental health professionals, health care professionals, and emergency responders and other people who work a lot with people who have experienced traumatic events are at greater risk of vicarious trauma than the general population.

4. Myth 4: Trauma is all in your head

Our reactions to a traumatic event do stem from our own thoughts, perceptions and sensitivities to the world around us, but it is very real and also impacts a person physically.

5. Myth 5: Trauma changes your brain forever

A person’s nervous system can be altered after experiencing trauma which can affect threat detection capacities, contributing to constant feelings of being on edge and on high alert for danger. But there’s evidence that our brains remain “plastic” (that is, changeable) until much later in life. With treatment, neural activity can be changed and lead to improvements in a person’s emotional and behavioural functioning.

Join us in Part 3 as we discuss the benefits of a trauma informed approach!