Currently, trauma is a hot button topic. Especially since we’ve all been experiencing one traumatic event after another since 2020.
Since mental health and trauma has blown up all over the internet, it’s become overwhelming and actually not that helpful overall. Skimming over human psychology, or any subject in general, does not do our fascinating brains any justice.
To try and input some “restorative justice” into the world of trauma and mental health, I’m sharing my top 10 facts about trauma that I think are most important to tell you right now. Best to read ’til the end, as #10 is my favorite.
**DISCLAIMER: I am in no way a medical professional or giving out personal advice. I am speaking from my own experiences with trauma, and what I’ve learned through therapy and doing my own research. I am in no way giving personal advice. If you are seeking help, please contact the correct medical professional.
If any of these facts interest you, I encourage you to explore anything that sparks your curiosity. 😌
1. Most of us have experienced at least one traumatic event in our lifetime.
There are 10 main categories that describe traumatic events, they are:
✽ Emotional abuse
✽ Physical abuse
✽ Sexual abuse
✽ Physical neglect
✽ Emotional neglect
✽ Parental mental illness
✽ Substance dependence
✽ Incarceration
✽ Parental separation or divorce
✽ Domestic violence or dangerous living environment, or witnessing civil unrest.
The important thing to mention here, is that everyone reacts and processes to trauma differently. There’s also no set rules or timeline for healing.I like at traumas like concussions; once you get one, the easier it is to get them again.
2. Trauma will affect you forever unless it’s resolved head on.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s no drug, job, or lifestyle that can shield you completely. Trauma affects your subconscious, and comes out in ways like addiction, overeating, or compulsive shopping. The infamous saying “stress is a silent killer” still holds its weight in gold.
3. Trauma can form as a “little T” or “big T“.
Little T’s like bullying can seem small overall, but can have lasting detrimental affects.
4. Adoption is a type of complex trauma.
Being an adoptee myself, I wasn’t all that shocked when I learned this, but can see how it’s easily overlooked by non-adopted people.
To me, it pretty much comes down to the separation of the child from its mother, and then any emotional and/or physical neglect experienced in an orphanage or foster home before they’re adopted.
In my experience, the most stereotypical view of adoption is that we shouldn’t have mental health issues because we don’t remember it, or because we were “chosen”.
It’s called complex, because the trauma happens before the child is able to speak or verbally express their emotions. That unexpressed trauma then stores in the body.
Logically, as an adult that makes sense. I grew up in my adolescence agreeing with that statement. I thought, I shouldn’t be sad, I have a great life here. But oh how this is wrong…
It’s called complex, because the trauma happens before the child is able to speak or verbally express their emotions. That unexpressed trauma then stores in the body.
I am in no way saying that adoption is wrong or bad. I still think adoption is a great option, as there are still children who need good homes. I believe, with enough education on child psychology and mental health trauma, you will be well equipped.
There’s a great podcast about adoption, called Adoptee’s On. Check ’em out here. 🙂
5. Trauma is often the underlying cause behind anxiety/depression, addiction, eating disorders, OCD, ADD/ADHD, and other mood disorders.
A shocking fact for me, I found this out when I finally committed to therapy at age 30 lol.
It’s amazing how much information we now have about mental health! It gives us so much more room to help everyone who’s struggling.
6. Trauma can be passed down to children, but not by blood.
It is inadvertently passed down by the parents, who themselves have unresolved trauma. The bright side here is, you can break that line of trauma at any time or age.
7. Trauma is a type of comorbidity.
Everyone has heard the word comorbidity more times than needed for the rest of our lives, but I think it’s important to note it here on more time. Trauma lowers your brain function and immune system, making you more susceptible to infection.
Which leads me to #8…
8. Experiencing 4 or more traumatic events greatly increases your chances of dying from the 6 leading causes of death, or suicide.
This is a very sad truth. The earlier mental health issues are addressed, the better off you are. Time is of the essence.
9. One physical brain injury can alter your mental health
I imagine it’s like dropping your cell phone; sometimes it falls from great heights and is perfectly fine, while others you drop it 5 inches from the ground and it shatters.
So happy to know the last one. ↓
10. You can heal your brain after trauma
Our brains are capable of so much more than we realize. Our brains are not set in stone. The book that really opened my eyes to this is, “The Brain That Changes Itself” by __ , opened my eyes to the abilities of our brains. Check it out!
Our brains’ are magic y’all!