TRAUMA AND STRESS DISORDERS

TRAUMA & ABUSE

What is Psychological Trauma?

Trauma is a psychological response to an emotionally disturbing or life threatening event, with lasting adverse effects on an individual’s functioning and well-being.

Immediate responses to a traumatic incident are usually shock and denial. Extended responses may come in the form of flashbacks, heightened emotions, avoidance, strained relationships, and sometimes physical symptoms such as nausea or headaches.

While these emotional responses are normal in the short term because they help the individual cope with the current unexpected circumstances, it is recommended to seek psychological support if distress sustains over a longer period. Therapy modalities addressing trauma, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), involves helping the individual process through and learn constructive ways to better manage their psychological distress and emotions.

Psychological Abuse

Abuse comes in different forms.

Physical abuse involves an individual applying physical force, resulting in bodily harm or injury.

Sexual abuse is typically but not always associated with physical abuse. Sexual abuse involves unwelcomed sexual contact, such as touching, brushing, or molesting. Perpetrators might also make threats to force victims to perform sexual acts against their will. While most victims are women, contrary to most beliefs, men can also be on the receiving end of sexual abuse.

Psychological or emotional abuse is the systematic use of manipulation to intentionally inflict mental anguish on the victim. It can occur by itself or together with other forms of abuse. Victims of such abuse often find themselves being controlled, intimidated, cocerced, or isolated. Gaslighting, which involves manipulating a victim to create self-doubt, confusion, and reliance on the abuser, is a common form of psychological and emotional abuse typically found in abusive relationships.

Verbal abuse involves the use of words to manipulate, degrade, ridicule, assault, and dominate an individual, often resulting in the decline of the victim’s mental health. Verbal abuse over a prolonged or intense period can cause significant psychological distress to victims.

Should you experience any form of abuse resulting in fear for safety, do seek the police’s help immediately. After safety is ensured, therapy aids in supporting individuals to cope with their experiences.

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Mental disorder(s) related to traumatic events

With therapy, it is possible for victims to properly address abusive and traumatic events. However, many might not have access to psychological help or intervention. As a result, many victims go through a prolonged period of psychological pain, including the potential development of mental disorders, such as:

These disorders might develop as a result of the immediate psychological impact following stressful or traumatic events. Victims may also develop other forms of mental disorders, such as Second-hand Trauma, Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in children, or Adjustment Disorder. It is possible to suffer from more than one mental disorder at any given point in time.

Addressing stressor- and trauma-related disorders

If you have experienced symptoms of possible mental disorders caused by a recent stressful or traumatic life event, the good news is that it can be managed. Management might involve a combination of different processes, including psychotherapy and medication. Seek help from a mental health professional in Singapore to discuss which management process best suits you.