“We all deserve a future that is not dictated by the past.” – Karen Saakvitne


Introduction

Trauma can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or life experience. A traumatic event can create intense emotional distress, feelings of fear or helplessness, and strong physical stress reactions that may continue long after the event itself has passed.

Some experiences leave a lasting psychological imprint. Trauma can change the way a person sees themselves, others, and the world around them. For some people, the effects appear immediately. For others, symptoms may emerge weeks, months, or even years later.

Today, psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are considered major mental health concerns worldwide. Trauma impacts not only individuals, but also families, relationships, workplaces, and entire communities. Its effects can influence emotional well-being, parenting, physical health, concentration, and the ability to feel safe in everyday life.

But not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. Many people experience temporary stress reactions, anxiety, sadness, or emotional overwhelm that gradually improve over time.

Traumatic experiences can include:

·       accidents

·       natural disasters

·       war and armed conflict

·       domestic violence

·       abuse and exploitation

·       difficult social or economic conditions

The way a person responds to trauma depends on multiple factors, including personal history, emotional resilience, previous experiences, available support systems, and the care they receive during and after the event [1].

What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD develops when the psychological and physical reactions to trauma persist over time and begin to interfere with daily functioning and quality of life.

PTSD commonly includes four main categories of symptoms [2]:

1. Re-experiencing the trauma

The traumatic event may continue to feel psychologically present through:

·       flashbacks

·       intrusive memories

·       nightmares

·       distressing emotional or physical reactions triggered by reminders of the event

2. Avoidance

Many individuals try to avoid anything associated with the trauma, including:

·       certain places

·       conversations

·       people

·       emotions

·       memories or thoughts linked to the event

3. Emotional and cognitive changes

Trauma can deeply affect emotional functioning and self-perception. People may experience:

·       persistent negative thoughts

·       guilt or shame

·       emotional numbness

·       detachment from others

·       loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

4. Hyper-arousal and hyper-vigilance

The nervous system may remain in a prolonged state of alert, leading to:

·       irritability

·       exaggerated startle responses

·       difficulty relaxing

·       sleep disturbances

·       hyper-vigilance

After a traumatic experience, some of these reactions can be normal. For many people, symptoms gradually decrease over time. However, when they persist or intensify, PTSD may develop and significantly affect emotional well-being and daily life [3].

Recognising PTSD in everyday life

Beyond clinical definitions, PTSD often appears through concrete struggles in everyday situations.

Some people describe feeling constantly “on edge,” as though their body never fully relaxes. Even minor sounds or unexpected situations may trigger anxiety or strong physical reactions.

Sleep problems are also extremely common. Nightmares, repeated awakenings, insomnia, or fear of falling asleep can contribute to chronic exhaustion and emotional fatigue.

Emotionally, PTSD can create intense fluctuations. A person may experience overwhelming fear, anger, sadness, or panic, while at other times feeling emotionally disconnected or numb.

Concentration and decision-making may also become difficult. Some individuals describe feeling detached from reality, disconnected from themselves, or as though they are observing life from the outside.

Avoidance remains one of the central features of PTSD. Over time, avoiding reminders of the trauma can gradually reduce a person’s sense of freedom and limit social, emotional, or professional functioning.

Why do some people remain stuck in trauma?

Research on PTSD highlights an important idea: the way trauma is interpreted psychologically plays a major role in how symptoms develop and persist.

After a traumatic experience, deeply distressing beliefs may emerge, such as:

·       “I am never safe anymore.”

·       “I am weak.”

·       “The world is dangerous.”

These beliefs reinforce a continuous sense of threat, even when the danger has passed. As a result, both the brain and body may remain in survival mode, contributing to ongoing PTSD symptoms [4].

Trauma can therefore affect not only memory and emotions, but also a person’s overall perception of safety, trust, and control.

Traumatic memory: when the brain struggles to process trauma

Trauma affects memory in a unique and complex way.

Some aspects of the traumatic experience may become extremely vivid and intrusive, including:

·       flashbacks

·       sensory memories

·       intense emotional reactions

·       recurring images or sensations

At the same time, other parts of the event may feel fragmented, blurry, or inaccessible. Some people experience:

·       memory gaps

·       partial amnesia

·       difficulty explaining what happened in a clear sequence

This happens because trauma affects multiple memory systems differently [5][6]. In many cases, the brain struggles to process and store the experience in the same way it processes ordinary memories.

Healing and recovery after trauma

Recovery after trauma is possible.

One of the most important concepts in trauma psychology is resilience: the human ability to adapt, heal, and gradually rebuild a sense of balance after difficult experiences.

Healing does not necessarily mean forgetting what happened. Rather, it involves learning to integrate the experience without allowing it to dominate the present.

With proper support and treatment, many people are able to regain emotional stability, rebuild trust, and improve their quality of life.

Several evidence-based therapies have shown strong effectiveness in treating PTSD, including:

·       EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) [7]

·       Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) [4]

Other therapeutic approaches may also support recovery, especially when integrated into a broader treatment process, including:

·       systemic therapy, which explores the impact of trauma on relationships and family dynamics

·       art therapy, which can help individuals express emotions that may feel difficult to verbalise

In some cases, medication may also be prescribed to help manage persistent symptoms such as severe anxiety, sleep disturbances, or hyper-arousal, either alone or alongside psychotherapy.

Conclusion

Trauma is part of the human experience, but it does not define a person’s identity or future.

Although traumatic experiences can leave deep emotional wounds, healing and recovery remain possible. With understanding, support, and appropriate care, individuals can rebuild a sense of safety, reconnect with themselves and others, and move forward with greater stability.

PTSD is a complex mental health condition that may develop after exposure to life-threatening or deeply distressing experiences. Research shows that only a portion of trauma-exposed individuals develop PTSD, highlighting the importance of vulnerability factors such as childhood experiences, personal history, family mental health background, trauma severity, dissociation, and the quality of support received afterward.

Over time, trauma treatment has evolved toward structured, evidence-based, and progressive therapeutic approaches. While medication may help reduce certain symptoms, psychotherapy remains central to long-term recovery.

Better understanding of PTSD also means developing a more compassionate and informed perspective toward trauma survivors and recognising that healing is possible.

Written by: Eliana Kachaamy

References

[1] De Clercq, M., & Lebigot, F. (2001). Les traumatismes psychiques. Paris: Masson.
[2] American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC: Author.
[3] Schnyder, U., Moergeli, H., Klaghofer, R., & Buddeberg, C. (2001). Incidence and prediction of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in severely injured accident victims. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(4), 594–599.
[4] Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38(4), 319–345.
[5] Brewin, C. R., Dalgleish, T., & Joseph, S. (1996). Dual representation theory of posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological Review, 103(4), 670–686.
[6] Tulving, E., & Schacter, D. L. (1990). Priming and human memory systems. Science, 247(4940), 301–306.
[7] Foa, E. B., & Kozak, M. J. (1986). Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information. Psychological Bulletin, 99(1), 20–35.
[8] Crocq, L. (2012). Les traumatismes psychiques de guerre. Paris: Odile Jacob.