• Fearing the future and seeing no happiness later on • Questioning God – asking oneself how a merciful and loving God can allow this to happen. Behavioural reactions • • • • • • Forgetting everyday things Inability to concentrate on everyday tasks Behaving as if nothing terrible has happened Trying to be in control of everything Actively avoiding trauma-related thoughts and memories Avoiding conversations and staying away from places, activities or people that might remind one of the trauma • Losing interest in things one used to enjoy doing • Drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs • Engaging in high-risk behaviour, e.g. being promiscuous. Factors that influence individual reactions to trauma Trauma is defined by the experiences of the survivor. Two people could be subjected to the same injurious event and yet one person might be traumatised while the other remains relatively unscathed. Why? The following are some of the factors that can have an impact in this regard: • Previous trauma experienced • Personality • Support system (family and friends) • Number of traumatic events (single-blow as opposed to repeated) • Age of the person (children and teenagers are more vulnerable than adults) • Nature of the problem (human as opposed to natural) • Magnitude of the problem (dose-response relationship) • Help received after the trauma (medical, legal, financial, economic). DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRESS AND TRAUMA (Mini lecture and discussion) Many of us confuse the terms ‘stress’ and’ trauma’. Despite their similarities, there are some significant differences between these two terms. 1. The situation itself. Trauma is a sudden event that dramatically explodes into our daily life and changes the way in which we perceive the world. A traumatic event is often life-threatening. Examples of traumatic events include terror attacks, the illness of a close family member, or a motor vehicle accident. In contrast, stress is a reaction to less dramatic and often daily events that are perceived as threatening, such as a job interview, deadlines, or worries related to the constant hike in transport fares. 2. Feeling in control. Owing to the severity of the traumatic event, people who have experienced trauma many times feel a loss of control. They experience symptoms of repeated memories of the event and often feel that they cannot control their thoughts. The traumatic event is relived again and again in their imagination and dreams and impedes their ability to live their lives. In contrast, people who experience stress maintain a feeling of control over their lives, to some degree. Despite the fact that people who are stressed may be short-tempered or worried, they still manage to function and do not feel completely out of control. Module 7: Dealing with trauma, psychological healing and support 109 7