【Mental Health】How to determine whether you have psychological trauma

Psychology is a science that studies people's mental processes and behaviors, and it reveals the motivations and psychological mechanisms behind human behaviors by studying people's thinking, emotions, behaviors, etc.

In our daily lives, many behaviors can be interpreted through psychological interpretation to understand the reasons behind them.

For example, people who have been psychologically traumatized.

PART 1 01

Psychological trauma is defined in psychiatry as "an event that is beyond the ordinary human experience".

When we think of psychological trauma, we think of wars, floods, earthquakes, fires, air crashes, and so on.

The concept of trauma began with a focus on veterans of the Viet Nam War.

People who have been through war, even if they return to a safe place and have their families by their side, they still do

These people have problems of varying degrees, lose interest, and live by memories.

Psychological intervention was later carried out on these veterans and a diagnostic term was proposed: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

After the Iraq War, the proportion of mental health problems, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among United States military personnel increased significantly.

According to a report by the United States Department of Defense, about 14 to 16 percent of United States military personnel deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression.

These psychological problems not only affect the personal health of military personnel, but also cause harm to society, such as suicide, traumatic brain injury (TBI), substance abuse disorder (SUD), and violent behavior.

In addition, the prevalence of PTSD among veterans is also high, with about 11%-20% of soldiers who served in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars suffering from PTSD, which is much higher than previous Vietnam and Gulf War veterans.

PART 2 02

As a matter of fact

In psychology, using the Theil classification (Terr, 1989), we divide psychological trauma into two types, type I and type II.

One-time trauma, whether in childhood or adulthood, is called type I trauma.

For example, having been on the battlefield, experienced death, or the sudden death of a loved one, or encountered violence, car accidents, school bullying, sexual assault, etc., these are unacceptable, and the moment of collapse is a sudden and huge injury.

The occurrence of a longer duration, recurrent episode of trauma that begins childhood is called type II trauma, or compound trauma.

Complex trauma is when an individual experiences a series or repetition of traumatic events, usually from a significant other person in the individual's life.

such as family members or caregivers, and the occurrence and impact of these traumatic events are ongoing or recurrent.

Compound trauma is characterized by the fact that it can lead to more complex and long-lasting psychological and behavioral problems than a single traumatic event.

Compound trauma can be triggered by child abuse or neglect, domestic violence and emotional neglect, unhealthy patterns in long-term relationships, and community or cultural conflicts.

You can imagine if you have ever had the experience of hearing your parents' reproaches when you were young, not getting enough love from your parents since you were a child, or being denied all the time.

This person may be your parent or teacher, as if you don't have good grades, you don't deserve respect; Or they are ostracized and looked down upon by their peers, and their eyes, smiles, and voices are so sarcastic......

A lot of psychological trauma is undetected harm.

Domestic experts in the field of trauma treatment have mentioned:

"Trauma that was not properly dealt with in the early years, even if it seems to be okay now, will flare up sooner or later, and suddenly one day it will become aggressive, either hurting others or hurting yourself."

PART 3 03

How can you tell if you have psychological trauma?

Criterion 1: Intense and long-lasting emotional response

Psychological trauma often triggers intense and persistent emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, or helplessness.

These emotions may persist long after the traumatic event or even be retriggered in similar situations.

This emotional response is not just a brief mood swing, but is deeply rooted in the heart and affects all aspects of daily life.

It can cause problems.

If a person finds themselves suffering from a strong negative emotion for a long time that cannot be relieved by self-regulation or regular coping styles, then this can be an important sign of psychological trauma.

Criterion 2: Changes in cognition and thinking patterns

Psychological trauma can also lead to significant changes in cognition and thought patterns.

People who have been traumatized may have negative views about the world, others, or themselves.

They may become overly alert and always worry about danger.

Or they have doubts about their own worth, believing that they are incompetent and unworthy of love.

For example, in the eyes of people who have been emotionally abused, relationships can be fraught with deception and hurt, making it difficult for them to trust others and establish healthy intimate relationships.

This change in perception and mindset is not based on objective facts, but on the distortion and negative effects of traumatic experiences.

If a person's way of thinking becomes extreme, negative, and this change is persistent and difficult to change, then one needs to be alert to the presence of psychological trauma.

Criterion III: Behavioral change and dysfunction

Psychological trauma is also often manifested in behavioural changes.

People who have been traumatized may have avoidance behaviors, avoiding people, places, or activities associated with the trauma.

They may become overly dependent on a substance, such as alcohol or drugs, to numb their pain.

In addition, psychological trauma can also lead to impairments in work, school, or social functioning.

For example, a person who has been humiliated in public may be afraid to speak in a crowd, which can affect career advancement.

If there are significant, long-term, abnormal changes in a person's behavior, and these changes have a negative impact on their normal life and social functioning, then this is likely to be a sign of psychological trauma.

PART 4 04

Are traumatized people destined to not be able to live this life well?

The answer, of course, is no.

Life is not a straight road without twists and turns, but full of ups and downs and twists.

Psychological trauma is certainly an insurmountable hurdle, but it is by no means the final verdict of fate.

Many people with psychological trauma, after experiencing painful struggles and self-redemption, have a stronger heart and a sharper insight.

In recent years, psychologists have found in their research on various types of traumatic events:

Some people who have experienced traumatic events such as long-term humiliation or abuse, terminal illness, loss of a loved one, war, terrorist attacks, etc., who have instead experienced positive personal growth from these experiences, are referred to as "survivors."

The word survivor has two meanings.

One is that this type of person has experienced the darkest moments of his life; The second is that even if they are in the dark, they have the ability to get out of the dark night and move towards the light, that is, "they have the strength to get through those negative events".

That is, trauma can lead to psychological disorders and also lead to growth.

These people

They use their experiences to warm others and become a beacon in the darkness of others.

Moreover, the psychotherapy and support system in modern society is constantly evolving and improving.

Professional counselors and warm support groups provide opportunities for those with psychological trauma to get back on their feet, and through therapy and self-healing, they can gradually let go of the baggage of the past and embrace life again.

In short, having a trauma does not mean the end of life, but a new beginning.

As long as they have the courage to face it, have the determination to change, and have the confidence to start anew, they can also write their own wonderful life.

Source: Committee on Mental and Mental Health Education