A traumatic experience(s) can have a variety of impacts on you. It can affect how you feel, your behaviors, and your body.
There are many different responses to trauma. Every person reacts differently and can experience a different response to trauma. There is no one set way to respond to a traumatic experience.
There is no ‘right’ way to react to a trauma, everyone has a unique experience
Additionally, you may experience the impacts of the trauma right after the experience, or after some time. Sometimes, the impacts of the trauma are not experienced until weeks, months or years after the traumatic experience can occur.
Additionally these impacts can be acute, can be repeating or can occur chronically over a long period of time.
What other factors can affect how you respond to trauma?
Everyone can have their own response to trauma. How you react to trauma depends on many factors, some of which include:
- Your age – Whether the traumatic experience occurred when you are a child, adolescent, adult or senior can affect how you respond to a traumatic experience.
- Other stressors – Experiencing other stressors, such as stress of losing a job, or other financial stress, stress with family members or other interpersonal relationships can affect how you are able to cope with a traumatic experience.
- Previous Traumatic Experiences – Having other traumatic experiences can affect how you respond or cope with a recent traumatic experience.
- Amount of support you had following the trauma – For example, having support from family, friends or other trusted individuals can help you cope with a traumatic experience.