TRAUMA
Trauma is subjective - each person’s response to a traumatic event is unique. A shared event may or may not cause a psychological disruption in each individual.
Survivors’ immediate reactions after a traumatic event are impacted by their personal experiences, access to a support system, the individual and their family’s coping/life skills, and how the larger community around them responds.
Traumatic events can change a person’s worldview and how safe they feel in it.
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Image by storyset on Freepik.com
Image by storyset on Freepik.com
Image by storyset on Freepik.com
ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS
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Macy Tillman, LCSW, LSCSW, TCTSY-F and Jennifer Rinne, LCSW are two clinically licensed social workers in the state of Missouri. Macy is also clinically licensed in Kansas. We have a combined 28 years of experience working with individuals, families and groups who have been impacted by trauma. Through that experience we have observed the need for a center that can provide all-inclusive, trauma-informed mental health services. Trauma services in Kansas City are fragmented into sexual violence providers, domestic violence providers, child abuse & neglect services, veterans services, etc.
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INITIAL RESPONSES
Initial responses may occur immediately or within a few days of the event.
Here are some possible initial responses to a traumatic event:
These are all normal responses to distressing events.
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DELAYED RESPONSES
Some survivors may experience a continued feeling of distress or a delayed response to trauma. These can occur 6 months or more from the date of the event.
Here are some common delayed responses to a traumatic event:
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES
Studies show that individuals who experience multiple adverse events throughout their lifetime experience more negative health outcomes overall. A study on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES study, 1998) by Kaiser Permanente found a direct link between childhood trauma and adult onset of chronic disease, incarceration, and employment challenges.
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Here are some examples of Adverse Childhood Experiences:
Source: Cronholm, P. F., Forke, C. M., Wade, R., Bair-Merritt, M. H., Davis, M., Harkins-Schwarz, M., Pachter,
L. M., & Fein, J. A. (2015). Adverse childhood experiences: Expanding the concept of adversity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 49(3), 354–361.
More information about the ACES, including source information, can be found here:
CONNECTIONS FOR COPING
Without effective coping skills, a traumatic event can not only impact the health and well-being of the survivor, but it can lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes for multiple generations to come.
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Trauma Connections seeks to facilitate healing by connecting individuals and community members with resources and coping skills, in order to build a trauma-informed system of support.
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There are some things you can do to reduce the negative effects of trauma you may be experiencing.
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Click the button next to each skill to learn more:
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