Effects of Traumatic Incidents

Trauma is any type of distressing event or experience that can have an impact on a person's ability to cope and function. Many people will experience some kind of traumatic event at some point in their lifetime, and everyone's response to a traumatic event is different.

A traumatic event threatens the life, health, or safety of the person experiencing or witnessing it. Traumatic events are so powerful because they disrupt our sense of the way the world is supposed to work--they cut against our assumptions of safety and balance.

Events can be traumatic when they are experienced directly, such as a car accident, a sexual assault, or the unexpected death of a loved one. They can also be indirect, such as witnessing a terrible accident, watching a natural or man-made disaster unfold, or being close to someone who experiences an assault. Every person will be affected differently by violence, tragedy, or accidents--we all have a different threshold for what is a traumatic event.

Trauma is a physical, emotional, and neurological response to a terrible event and happens when the effects of an event exceed a person’s ability to cope.

Responses to trauma are highly subjective and no two people will react to trauma in the exact same way. While trauma can have a different impact on everyone, there are a few common responses or symptoms associated with trauma:

Emotional Effects

Anger and blame
Shock and denial
Numbness
Self-blame/guilt for "allowing" the crime to happen
Hyper-vigilant
Hypersensitivity to environment
Intensified emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, embarrassment, and shame
Mood swings

Physical Effects

Injury
Illness
GI distress and nausea
Body aches
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating or remembering
Changes in sleep and eating habits
Inability to feel focused or balanced

Mental Health Effects

Feeling that these reactions are a sign of weakness
Post-traumatic stress reactions
Anxiety or depression
Increase in risky behaviors, such as alcohol, drug use, or self-injury
Intrusive thoughts, such as flashbacks or nightmares

Relational Effects

Sense of vulnerability
Difficulty trusting
Inability to recognize danger
Isolation, withdrawal
Change in normal social activity and daily routine
Difficulty with intimate and sexual relationships

"Post Traumatic Stress" refers to a pattern of trauma response symptoms that do not resolve after an average period of time. Studies from the National Center for PTSD (US Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs) show that approximately one third of sexual assault and rape survivors experience post traumatic stress during their lifetimes. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) have extensive information about trauma and traumatic response.

In the first few days and weeks following trauma, it is normal to experience intense and sometimes unpredictable emotions. Individuals respond differently as time progresses and there is not a distinct timeline for coping or recovery. If you are reacting in a way that does not allow you to live your daily life, you may be experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Regardless of how you are feeling, it’s important to talk to someone and determine the support that you need.

Below are some suggestions for how to cope with Sexual Assault and Dating or Domestic Violence.

Talk to Someone: You don’t have to heal alone. Whether you talk to trusted friends or family, a professional counselor, the Title IX Office, or someone else, reaching out for support is often an essential step to regaining balance and control.
Be Patient with Yourself: Recovery from trauma doesn’t happen in a set time frame or set of steps. You will probably have good days and bad days, and you might sometimes feel overwhelmed. This is all normal.
Attend to Your Basic Needs: It may sometimes be difficult to prioritize your basic needs, but this is an essential foundation for healing.
- Try to get enough sleep and eat well.
- Try to move your body with exercise, yoga, or whatever feels good to you.
- Try to maintain social contact with people who make you feel safe and happy.
Try to Prioritize Fun: The idea of "fun" might seem out of place when talking about the aftermath of sexual assault, but it isn’t and it can really help with the healing process.
- Do things that make you happy and try to get back into routines that have worked for you in the past.
- Ask a friend to help you with this to make it seem more attainable.

If you’ve experienced a traumatic incident, you may react in a variety of ways. Reactions are based on individual coping styles, personality, and external factors such as religion or culture.

Some people may have immediate emotional reactions, and some may appear more composed.
Some may immediately disclose to a friend, family member, or authority figure, and some may wait a considerable amount of time before telling anyone.
Some may seek out and take advantage of support resources, and others may find this unappealing.
It’s important to know that those impacted are doing what they can to regain stability and take care of themselves, even if that looks very different from the way others may believe they would react.

It’s definitely okay to wait to reach out until you are ready. We encourage you to talk to someone you trust as soon as you can, though, to get support and assistance.