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.
Image by storyset on Freepik.com
Image by storyset on Freepik.com
Image by storyset on Freepik.com
ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are some things you can do to reduce the negative effects of trauma you may be experiencing.
Click the button next to each skill to learn more: