What Is Trauma? Causes, Symptoms, PTSD Risk Factors, and Effective Treatments

06.04.2021

What is Trauma?

Trauma is an event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Trauma can occur through:

Direct experience (e.g., assault, accidents, natural disasters)
Witnessing trauma happen to someone else
Discovering a close friend or family member experienced trauma
Repeated exposure to traumatic details (common for first responders)

Trauma itself is not a mental illness; it is an event. But it can lead to emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms.

How Trauma Affects the Brain and Body

When we face danger, the brain activates the fight-or-flight response to increase our chance of survival, releasing chemicals like:

Cortisol – provides quick energy in emergencies
Norepinephrine – increases alertness and attention

After trauma, for some people, the body may stay in this heightened state, even when there is no real danger. This can cause anxiety, irritability, panic, or feeling “on edge.” Three major brain areas are involved:

Amygdala – fear and threat detection
Prefrontal cortex – decision-making and self-control

This explains why trauma can affect mood, memory, sleep, and behaviors.

How Common is Trauma?

Trauma is extremely common in the United States and around the world.

Nearly 50-90% of U.S. adults report at least one traumatic event.
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience childhood sexual abuse.
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
1 in 7 children experience abuse or neglect annually.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience partner violence.

Most people recover naturally, but many develop treatable symptoms.

Effects and Consequences of Trauma

Everyone responds to trauma differently. Reactions depend on:

The seriousness and closeness of the event
Past trauma or mental health conditions
Biological factors
Social support
The meaning the event has for the person

Trauma caused by another person (e.g., rape, domestic violence) often has stronger and longer-lasting effects.

Trauma-Related Disorders

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD symptoms include:

Flashbacks, intrusive memories, or nightmares
Avoiding reminders of the trauma, often avoiding public and social environments
Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
Guilt or shame
Feeling detached from others
Trouble sleeping, concentrating, or relaxing
Irritability or anger
Being on edge or easily startled

Symptoms last more than one month and interfere with daily life.

Acute Stress Disorder

Symptoms are similar to PTSD but occur within the first month after the traumatic event. Some people with acute stress disorder later develop PTSD.

Adjustment Disorder

Emotional or behavioral symptoms that begin after a stressful event. These symptoms feel stronger than expected and affect daily functioning.

Common Trauma Symptoms (Even Without PTSD)

Many people experience trauma-related symptoms even if they don’t meet the full criteria for a diagnosis.

Anxiety

Worry, panic attacks, or avoidance of certain places or situations.

Depression

Low mood, loss of interest, guilt, trouble sleeping, low energy, or thoughts of death.

Dissociation

Feeling disconnected from your body or surroundings.

Hyperarousal

Feeling constantly “on alert” or easily startled.

Sleep Problems

Trouble falling or staying asleep, nightmares, or fear of falling asleep.

Substance Use

Using alcohol or drugs to cope with trauma symptoms.

Who Is at Risk for Developing PTSD?

Some factors increase the chance of developing PTSD:

Before the Trauma

Being female
Prior trauma
Previous mental health conditions
Genetics
Certain personality traits

During the Trauma

Fear of death
Interpersonal violence
Severe, repeated, or prolonged trauma
Physical injury

After the Trauma

High stress
Little social support and loneliness
Financial strain
Ongoing pain
Brain injury
Dissociation symptoms
Disability

Effective Treatments for Trauma and PTSD

Good news: Trauma-related conditions are highly treatable.

Therapies for Trauma

1. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Helps the brain reprocess trauma memories so they are less distressing. Involves recalling the memory while following side-to-side eye movements or tapping.

2. Exposure Therapy

A gradual and supported approach to facing traumatic memories and avoided situations. Helps reduce fear and avoidance. Modern technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality help replicate avoided situations for exposure

3. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Especially effective for children and teens. Includes:

Education about trauma and its impact
Relaxation skills
Challenging negative beliefs about self and the world (like self-blame)
Creating a more adaptive trauma narrative

Medications

Doctors may prescribe:

SSRIs or SNRIs – reduce anxiety, depression, and irritability, and intense fear. Ask your doctor what works best for you, including side effects. Always provide your doctor with a list of all of the medications that you are taking.
Prazosin – may reduce trauma-related nightmares

Therapy and medication are often used together.

Childhood Trauma

Two-thirds of children experience at least one traumatic event. Children may show trauma through:

Repetitive play
Nightmares
Irritability or aggression
Trouble concentrating
Sleep problems
Risky behavior (especially in teens)
Self-blame

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

ACEs include abuse, neglect, and household instability. Higher ACE scores are linked to:

Depression
Obesity
Substance use
Heart disease
Chronic illness
Lower overall health

Many pediatricians now screen for ACEs.

How to Help a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma

Stay calm and supportive
Listen to the child and do not deny, dismiss, or avoid their report
Understand that “bad behavior” may be fear or stress
Avoid minimizing or denying what happened
Seek professional help from a pediatrician or mental health provider
Create a safe, steady, predictable environment

Trauma is common, and treatment is effective.

Continuous Trauma

Some people experience ongoing trauma, such as:

Children in abusive homes
Victims of racism or discrimination
People living in war zones and refugees
Human trafficking survivors
First responders exposed to repeated tragedies

Treatment focuses on:

Increasing safety
Understanding ongoing risks
Strengthening identity and resilience
Building coping skills
Addressing trauma-related behaviors, including avoidance and mistrust

Long-Term Effects of Untreated PTSD

If left untreated, PTSD can affect brain structure and stress hormones. This may increase the risk of:

Heart disease
Diabetes
Obesity
Chronic pain
Depression
Alcohol or drug use

Early treatment can greatly reduce these risks.

ADAA Resources:

Blogs:

Webinars, Podcasts, Videos:

Personal Stories:

Page:

What is PTSD?

Additional Community Resources

References:

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