Trauma

Physical symptoms of trauma

There are a number of common physical symptoms that individuals experience during and after a trauma. These indicate that the individual is experiencing a physical reaction and requires reassurance. These symptoms can be very distressing to the individual and they may think that these reactions are abnormal. 

Most of these symptoms are, however, normal reactions to experiences that are not normal (unnormal).

 The physical symptoms during and after a trauma may include any of the following:                       

o   Fatigue

o   Twitches

o   Thirst

o   Grinding of teeth

o   Profuse sweating

o   Fainting

o   Nausea

o   Muscle tremors

o   Chest pain

o   Rapid heartbeat

o   Visual difficulties

o   Vomiting

o   Weakness

o   Dizziness

o   Chills

o   Shock symptoms

o   Difficult breathing

Types of Trauma

There are two different types of trauma: 

o   Situational Trauma which is related to specific occurrences. Natural disasters (flood, fire) and violent crimes (rape, mugging) are examples of Situational Trauma. 

o   Developmental Trauma which are those associated with movement from one developmental stage of life to another, from childhood through old age or progressing through fatal diseases or injuries or situations. Each stage of the developmental trauma can be associated with secondary traumas.

Some of these stages may be considered predictable, since it may be known ahead of time that certain developmental trauma ‘markers’ may be present at various times. (e.g. In lingering disease, illness, divorce etc.). However, the actual timing of these ‘markers’ is not known.

The Traumatised child

Children after a Traumatic incident can be irritable, volatile and often have seemingly lower IQ's. They re-enact trauma in play; what they do not have in language to describe is acted out in their behaviours. They almost always have difficulty concentrating. They can have a foreshortened sense of the future; they can become devoid of aspirations and dreams. They often have difficulty getting along with other children. They are often misdiagnosed with ADD/ ADHD, conduct disorder, learning disabilities and affective disorders. Because they seem difficult, these children are vulnerable to further conflict or stress in their homes and institutional settings. Children may feel that they have lost all control over their environment and that they are unable to protect themselves.   Apart from this perceived loss over of control over the environment, they may also feel that they have lost control of themselves.   This is especially the case when the child is re-experiencing the event in the form of flashbacks. They may feel that they are not able to control their thoughts from these intrusive images. South Africa may have the fastest growing population of trauma survivors in the world

Categories of Trauma

There are three different categories of trauma:

o   Primary Trauma: This is the original trauma experienced by an individual. For example being hijacked.  

o   Secondary Trauma: This refers to a post-trauma event that effectively re-traumatises the individual, but is related directly or indirectly to the primary trauma. For example being raped would be a primary trauma. The invasive internal medical examination that may follow would be the secondary trauma.

 o   Vicarious Trauma: The trauma of being exposed to the primary and / or secondary trauma of another person or persons.