Trauma may be described as an injury that is physical or psychological and has a lasting effect. Some physical injuries not only results in physical effect but pain it self is an emotional response to hurt or injury and strong feelings of fear and helplessness.

With psychological trauma, the injury may be actual or perceived; as in the case of nasty words and threats, lack of safety and security or self value.

The traumatic event is usually unpredictable and uncontrollable. It may shatter ones sense of security and leave a feeling of agitation and vulnerability.

 The event does not have to be one in which a person is directly involved ; sometimes the news of the death of someone close to us can be traumatic. People who watch traumatic news events on television may report feeling traumatized as well.

The subject of trauma is still not fully accepted by some even in the medical fields, but it is making its way mainstream by way of the secondary effects of war on some veterans.

Trauma is an extreme stress response in the human's body. It is a sustained stressor and hence has its multiple physical, emotional and psychological consequences.

The human being like other species was built for survival.Along with other inate characteristics programmed to sustain and protect life, the stress response (Fright / Freeze/ Flight, Fight) also was designed for protection.

When there is a real or perceived threat to our survival, one of these responses is activated in our bodies.The threat or perceived threat may be different for individuals, based on their personalities and past experiences.

So when an individual screams and jumps in response to a sudden,loud sound, that is an example of the adrenalin response in action.Another individual in the similar environment may respond by freezing or engaging a weapon to fight.

Please see the chart for the various organs and hormones involved in this high powered response.

I will just highlight a few. The brain's hypothalamus stimulates the Adrenal gland's Medula and Cortex to initiate the release of Adrenalin and Cortisols.

Adrenalin causes the heart rate to increase, sending an increased volume of blood to vital organs like the brain lungs and the heart and to the muscles as well. This causes one to think on their feet, to prepare and execute almost simultaneously.

Adrenalin will cause the heart rate and blood pressure to increase.

Cortisol is responsible for the conversion of stored sugar to be released in the blood stream for ready access to energy. Cortisol and the glucose produced are responsible for the heroics produced on accasions where survival of self or other is at stake.

Now the adrenalin response was not meant to be engaged for hours on end and days weeks and years as is so prevalent in today's world! Between wars, 911, violence in neighbourhoods Domestic Violence, Road rage, TV shows, Movies and Violent video games, this real or perceived threat of injury of death appears almost constant.

We are well aware of the physical and emotional problems as a result of stress, but Post traumatic Stress is diagnosed when these symptons last for more than three months after the initial incident.

One of the issues with trauma is that incidents are repeated and responses remain continuous. The events or incidents of trauma appear to be ongoing as if one time events are recurring in the memory, hence,the effects may be more severe than that of stress.

One may have an Acute Stress Disorder, Chronic stress, PTSD, Panic Attacks or Anxiety Disorders as a result of the above sequence of responses.

PTSD results in a chronic state of victimization. For healing to begin, the thoughts, feelings, responses and perceptions relaated to the trauma must be acknowledged and accommodated. The goal would be to disengage the "charge" attached to the trauma and bring the incident to an end point.

Recovery and Treatment
Most people exposed to a traumatic event will experience some post traumatic symptoms. Most will fully recover within weeks or months without needing professional help. The mind, like the body, naturally heals. The minority of those injured by psychological trauma need professional help. Fortunately, there are effective, short-term psychological treatments available. These therapies aim to help the injured mind regain its natural curative abilities.