Trauma can occur in various ways, such as surviving a natural disaster, witnessing or experiencing violence, suffering from the loss of a friend or loved one, or enduring a severe illness, to name a few. Secondary traumatic stress can arise when a loved one experiences trauma.
Typical reactions
People experience a variety of reactions, including shock, terror and rage. These feelings affect the body, altering brain chemistry and chemicals in the bloodstream. Trauma affects a person's connection to his or herself and society. It changes belief systems and damages psychological needs.
Reactions to a severe stressor include:
Anxiety
Grief
Depression
Emotional numbness
Low self-esteem
Loss of self-respect
Shame
Fear
These feelings are typical reactions to abnormal events. Trauma is a sudden and unexpected loss that can permanently change a person's belief system about him or herself and the world. No longer will things look the same, and this experience of dramatic change cannot be undone or erased.
Although other people may be present when a traumatic event occurs, each person is uniquely touched by the event. It is all too common to have a group witness the same event and tell the tale differently. Each person experiences the trauma in isolation, making it theirs and theirs alone and altering their connections to their friends and loved ones. For some people, the trauma damages their self-esteem or feelings of power and control; for others, it disrupts their trust and feelings of safety.
Depression and psychological trauma
Feelings of depression can occur from a variety of origins, but depression that stems from experiencing stress or distress is due to the events being too much for someone to handle. This type of depression generally comes from depleted brain chemistry. The challenges of stress and distress can affect brain chemistry.
Within the brain is a neurotransmitter known as serotonin. Serotonin is a feel-good chemical. This neurotransmitter is like a telegraph line in the brain that sends impulses that are interpreted as confidence, strength, hope and a sense of wellbeing that contributes to self-satisfaction and positive self-esteem.
Think of the brain as a kitchen sink with the stopper down, blocking the water from draining away. Then imagine that the water in the sink is serotonin. When a traumatic event happens, the stopper releases and lowers the level of serotonin in the sink. If the serotonin level is lowered, the lack of this neurotransmitter sends the message of uncertainty, doubt, fear or anxiety, leading to insecurity, low self-confidence and low self-esteem.
Depression and two phases of trauma reaction
Someone suffering from the reactions of psychological trauma experiences two phases: intrusive and avoidant.
During the intrusive phase, the person re-experiences the traumatic event. This happens because the initial experience is a form of learning; when the experience is severe, the learning is intense.
The brain reacts strongly as if to say, "Whoa, I am not going to let that happen again!" The brain, like a sentry guarding the camp, goes on hyper-alert. If anything slightly resembles the traumatic event, the brain responds. Thoughts, feelings, sensations, and memories surface, and the person becomes depressed from the symptoms. They feel trapped and cannot get free from the event.
Then, as if to take a break from all this intrusion, the avoidant phase appears. The person becomes numb and may even use alcohol or drugs to anesthetize their feelings. The person may avoid anything that somehow resembles the trauma. For example, having suffered a severe injury from riding in a train, a person might avoid trains, railroad tracks, toy trains, red flashing lights, etc. When this happens, a person's life becomes constricted and restrictive. The brain works on repressing associations and memories. This type of depressive reaction helps dull the experiences surrounding the person. Unfortunately, life becomes limited and joyless.
Support and coping
People who experience depression from psychological trauma should be gentle to themselves and appreciate surviving the incident or incidents.
See a physician for a medical exam to rule out other conditions.
Make an appointment with a therapist who specializes in psychological trauma. Medication may be necessary to restore the serotonin level in the mix of brain chemistry. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed, but a professional must determine the appropriate levels and medication for each person.
Realize the event is an experience that does not define a person. The event has happened to the person, but that victim is not trauma.
Recognize that the feeling of depression should pass. Sometimes feelings change quickly, while other times, they pass slowly.
Acknowledge that certain events may challenge one's brain chemistry at other times.
For maintenance and support, good nutrition is essential in ensuring that the foods a person eats do not contribute to stressing the brain chemistry. Limit sugars, which can spike blood sugar levels and cause artificial highs and lows, and caffeine, which releases stress hormones into a person's system.
Exercises, such as 20 minutes of brisk walking or any other aerobic activity, help release serotonin naturally within the brain.
Find ways to soothe, comfort and release stress, such as:
Take long walks
Enjoy good music
Find ways to laugh
Visit friends
Drink water
Try yoga or relaxation tapes
Write in a journal
Know that depression is a normal response to an abnormal situation. It is essential to be aware of the symptoms of depression to not become overwhelmed by the depression.
