We often associate “Trauma” with extreme events such as war, terrorism and other extreme violent events. Most of us will experience various events through our life that will somehow leave a scar on us. Our ability to cope with our events will vary from person to person and what may be traumatic for one individual may not be for another.
Trauma is an emotional damage that occurs when an individual is exposed to an extraordinary event that impairs the ability to cope and function. This may be a very simple event such as being chased by a dog to more complex events such as extreme community violence or sexual trauma. No matter how simple the event may be, it has the capacity to generate enough emotional distress to the point that functioning and performing our day to day activities become very difficult.
There are many effective treatment methods available HOPE focuses on the following models Trauma Focused CBT, EMDR, and CBT. Throughout trauma treatment, the individual does not forget or avoid thinking about the traumatic events. However, the individual learns appropriate ways to cope, understand and accept its experiences to the point of no emotional distress.