Trauma isn’t always what we think it is. Yes, it can be the capital kind of TRAUMA, but sometimes it can be a small case trauma, and still affect us in a lasting and life changing way.
On Sundays Around Town we had John O’Sullivan, from Durham Counselling and Mary O’Sullivan, from Sunshine & Showers Counselling, in the studio with us to discuss the impact of trauma in its different shapes and sizes. In the process, we spent some time dispelling some widely held myths and misconceptions of trauma and its effects on people’s lives.
We began by looking at the definition of trauma; how we can experience very frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control.
This could be one incident, or an ongoing event, that happens over a long period of time, and most of us will experience an event or situation in our lives that could be considered traumatic.
We discussed the different types of Trauma. Acute trauma, possibly resulting from a single incident. We can suffer prolonged chronic trauma, caused by domestic violence or abuse. The situation is complicated further when we are exposed to varied and multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature.
We are all different, but trauma is a common denominator, in as much as we will all experience some form of trauma, large or small, as an everyday part of life, so learning to understand it, and how to deal with it, and how to get the support and professional help, should you need it, is vital to us all in maintaining our health and well-being.
Phill & Andy
Around Town
Aycliffe Radio