Coping with Trauma
July 25, 2022
Coping with trauma can take many forms. It is caused by a traumatic event, which is a shocking, scary, dangerous experience that affects someone not only physically but emotionally as well. This could be a natural disaster, acts of violence or even accidents like car crashes.
There are warning signs for those who struggle with trauma. They may feel anxiety, sad or angry at times. Also, they may have trouble concentrating and/or continuously think about what happened. These warning signs can worsen over time.
The most common signs and symptoms for someone who is struggling with trauma are the following:
● Cries often
● Can’t think clearly
● Feels isolated
● Has nightmares
Different ages react differently to traumatic events. For example, childhood signs would look like:
● Forgets how to talk
● Acts out scary events during playtime
● Unusually clingy
Within older children it may look like:
● Headaches
● Stomach pain/digestive issues
● Fatigue
● Racing heart
● Jumpy
With this said, there are ways to cope with trauma. A few ways would be to avoid consuming alcohol/drugs, staying active, maintaining routines and spending time with loved ones. Though these are only a few of the many ways people cope with trauma, everyone is different.
If you or a loved one struggles with trying to cope with trauma, please contact the CRISIS Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or you can text the CRISIS Text Line “HELLO” to 741741