🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, learners will:
- Understand what trauma and stress-related disorders are
- Identify common types of trauma-related conditions
- Recognise signs and symptoms of trauma
- Understand causes and risk factors
- Learn about treatment, support, and recovery
🧠 What Is Trauma?
Trauma is:
👉 A deeply distressing or disturbing experience
👉 Something that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope
⚠️ Examples of Trauma
- Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)
- Accidents or injuries
- Violence or crime
- War or conflict
- Sudden loss of a loved one
- Natural disasters
💡 Important
👉 Not everyone who experiences trauma develops a disorder
👉 People respond differently to trauma
🧩 Trauma & Stress-Related Disorders
These conditions occur when trauma or stress causes ongoing psychological difficulties
😨 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Develops after a traumatic event
- Long-term symptoms
Includes:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Severe anxiety
- Avoidance of triggers
⚡ Acute Stress Disorder
- Similar to PTSD
- Happens immediately after trauma
- Lasts 3 days to 1 month
⚖️ Adjustment Disorders
- Emotional or behavioural response to a stressful life event
- Example:
- Divorce
- Job loss
- Moving house
- Divorce
- Job loss
- Moving house
🔄 Complex PTSD (CPTSD)
- Caused by long-term or repeated trauma
(e.g. ongoing abuse)
(e.g. ongoing abuse)
Includes:
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Relationship problems
- Negative self-image
👶 Childhood Trauma Disorders
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
- Difficulty forming emotional bonds
- Often due to neglect
Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED)
- Overly familiar behaviour with strangers
- Lack of appropriate boundaries
⚠️ Common Symptoms of Trauma
🧠 Intrusive Symptoms
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Distressing memories
🚪 Avoidance
- Avoiding people, places, or thoughts
- Emotional avoidance
⚡ Hyperarousal
- Easily startled
- Constant alertness (“on edge”)
- Irritability
- Sleep problems
😔 Mood & Thinking Changes
- Guilt or shame
- Emotional numbness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Negative thoughts
🏥 Physical Symptoms
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea
- Chronic pain
- Fatigue
🧬 Causes & Risk Factors
Trauma-related disorders are caused by distressing experiences, such as:
- Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)
- Violence or crime
- War or combat
- Serious accidents
- Sudden bereavement
- Long-term neglect
⚠️ Risk Factors
- Repeated trauma
- Lack of support
- Childhood adversity
- Existing mental health conditions
🔄 Additional Trauma Responses
Some people may also experience:
- Dissociation (feeling detached from reality)
- Anhedonia (loss of pleasure)
- Anger or aggression
- Withdrawal from others
🛠️ Treatment & Support
🧠 Psychological Therapies
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Helps manage thoughts and reactions
Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Specifically designed for trauma recovery
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
- Helps process traumatic memories
💊 Medication
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety medication
👥 Support Systems
- Family and friends
- Support groups
- Mental health professionals
🧘 Self-Help Strategies
- Grounding techniques
- Relaxation and breathing
- Routine and structure
🚑 When to Seek Help
Seek help if:
- Symptoms persist
- Daily life is affected
- You feel overwhelmed
🚨 Urgent Help Needed If:
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Severe distress or panic
- Risk to self or others
👉 Contact:
- Emergency services
- Crisis hotlines (e.g. 988 in the U.S.)
🌟 Recovery Message
👉 Recovery is possible
👉 Healing takes time
👉 Support makes a difference
❓ Module 4 – Quick Quiz
1. Trauma is:
A) A minor inconvenience
B) A deeply distressing experience
C) A physical illness only
D) Not important
2. PTSD can include:
A) Flashbacks
B) Nightmares
C) Avoidance
D) All of the above
3. Acute Stress Disorder lasts:
A) Years
B) 3 days to 1 month
C) A lifetime
D) 1 day only
4. Which is a trauma-related disorder in children?
A) RAD
B) DSED
C) Both
D) Neither
5. Which is a treatment option?
A) Therapy
B) Medication
C) Support systems
D) All of the above
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