The Effects Of Trauma On Health

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Tessa Inverary Walden University October 29, 2011 Trauma is an emotional reaction to a terrible event like rape, earthquake, floods, and accidents among others (Schein, 2006). Traumatic events can be divided into three major subdivisions; man-made disasters, natural disasters, and violence, crime, and terrorism (Schein, 2006). This research paper will discuss the effects of trauma on patients and counselor as well as traumatic events such as earthquakes and rape. Earthquake is a natural disaster that has claimed many lives including the recent 2011 Japan earthquake. Earthquake causes destruction of properties, displacement of people, and deaths. Earthquake causes human…show more content…
However, how we process emotions after such traumatic events is distinctive to different people. Most victims develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder especially when they lose family members or friends. Indirectly affected people face acute stress after reading or watching traumatic events on the television and newspapers. Children are most affected because they develop phobias (Schein, 2006). In case natural disaster like floods or earthquake, the survivors may have distressing dreams while children become excessively frightened. Individuals have illusions, hallucinations, and they experience flashbacks (Baum and Contrada, 2009). The victims are unable to have loving feelings, they feel detached from others, and they experience a sense of foreshortened future because they do not have ambitions any more (Schein, 2006). Some of the most persistent symptoms may occur and the victims cannot concentrate, become angry, and experience sleepless nights (Baum and Contrada,…show more content…
The survivors of the earthquake have to understand that they still have a bright future. The counselors also assist the victim to acquire an emergency shelter in case of displacement. Moreover, the counselor helps the victims come to terms with losing their loved ones by creating an environment to grieve. In addition, the counselor helps the victims to accept what has happened to them in order to start a new life. In case of rape, the counselor should explain to the victim that they did not do anything to warrant what happened. As such, the counselor helps the victim understand that not all men are going to rape them. This will help the victim to trust other
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