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Riley Hata

Mr. Ryan Smith

Writing for College B-4

16 January 2018

TRAUMA: What to do with what’s left after serious challenges.

SECTION 1: Introduction

Traumatic experiences are events that can flip your world upside down. These can vary

from physical abuse, drugs, and or accidents. These types of experiences aren’t inevitable, but I

suggest you to be grateful for the life you live. Based off the level of trauma, the aftermaths can

last anywhere from weeks to a lifetime.

The famous and well known “#MeToo” in Hollywood plays a big role in sexual assault

and trauma amongst young women. Strong, famous, woman actors were being sexually

assaulted, but were too scared to come out and say something due to the fear in losing their job.

Not until recently, women started coming out anonymously, and this led to more and more

women saying, “Me Too”. This has led many men to begin their downfall on their career. Thoe

women who had suffered sexual assault and violence must either be feeling relief, or suffering

from a moment which cannot be undone.

What problems do people face after experiencing a traumatic experience? What can be

done to help them? We must focus on the victim by putting ourselves in their shoes and trying

our best to put ourselves in their shoes. By understanding their perspective as a friend, family

member, and even doctors will help get them past this really rough time in their life. Trauma can

damage people psychologically and counseling can help. With the improvement of technology,

prescription drugs can temporarily improve trauma patient’s well-being from the pain and
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anxiety that has been lingering around. People may never be able to forget, but they can connect

with others who suffer to and find contentment. The support towards a person facing a traumatic

experience, needs to make them feel safe and comfortable, so it is important to help them find

the backbone they need. Drugs will only help the physical factor in a post-traumatic situation, the

rest is up to the victim to find support and counseling to help support their mental state.

SECTION 2: Psychological Pain

Traumatic experiences can come any place at any time really and will really damage

people psychologically, but counseling can help. Any sort of a traumatic experience, especially

to a child or adolescent, may scar his or her life forever. Forms of trauma can vary from injuries,

sexual assault, and even just witnessing a traumatic situation can cause a lot of damage to one

self. Disorders such as PTSD is the after math speaking long term. This can be medicated by

creating a safe environment to protect the people around while protecting the victim as well.

In “Sasha Joseph Neulinger’s Trauma is irreversible. How it shapes us is our choice Ted

talk” he explains how, “Trauma is irreversible, but it is both the painful and joyful experiences

that shape who we are today.” This shows that the way one chooses to live life after a traumatic

situation will decide whether one will live a good or persevering life. Yes, you cannot undo or

completely forget about a situation that may be very affecting, but the way you let it affect you is

completely up to you. Neulinger talking about one of his traumatic experiences as a child which

made him feel “dirty, disgusting, unlovable, and wanted to die” (Neuslinger). Yet a rough

experience of childhood trauma abuse may seem to ruin the rest of your life, getting through it

may seem impossible at the time but with enough love and support from family and friends this

could potentially be easier than expected.

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The act of support, love, and care can only help so much. The situation that he or she has

suffered will really damage them futuristically, including verbal, physical, sexual, and

physiological abuse. Psychotherapy is one way to help one’s situation because it, “often focuses

on recovery from acute posttraumatic stress symptoms” (Fahs). Psychotherapy is a psychological

way to help relieve a person from a traumatic event in their life. A psychosocial process where a

victim will be helped in a more mental way versus a physical way, such as pain medication. A

mental process may play a bigger role in helping to relieve a victim because after a traumatic

situation the rest is in his or her head. In “Sexual Violence, Disidentification, and Long-Term

Trauma Recovery: A Process-Oriented Case Study Analysis”, Fahs explains a situation of a 30-

year-old women who was raped at the young age of 17. The psychotherapy had positively

influenced her perspective of her traumatic event to help see the brighter sides of things, but

because this happened at such a young age this isn’t an easy therapeutic. “This case study

illustrates the complicated dimensions of “trauma bonds,” whereby rape survivors harbor

positive feelings toward their rapists,” Fahs stated, making the psychotherapy much complicated

than it should’ve been. Psychotherapy; also known as “talk therapy, is a way to help people with

a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate

or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and

healing” according to Parehk in “What is Psychotherapy?” This just simply explains the mental

part of the process whereas a victim can control the symptoms of any post traumatic stress.

Trauma can easily affect children in the way they act and portray their emotions because

of their developing brain. There was a case study involving a second grader who acted very

agitated and problematic in school because he wasn't with his mother. The school clearly

victimizes him knowing just a little of his traumatic occasion as a child. “He had been acting this
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way for a few months, she finally told them, ever since she had been hit in the arm by a stray

bullet while she and Michael were walking down their street in the middle of the day” stated in

“Trauma and learning in Americas classrooms” by Salvatore Terrasi. Ever since Michael feels

more secure with his mom and won't go to class without her care around him. The article

contends that schools must improve their employments to help kids recover from traumatic

occasions throughout their life by influencing them to feel that they are in a safe environment.

Traumatic instances such as witnessing your mother being grazed by a bullet at such a young age

could scar them for as long as they can remember. Terrasi wants, “Children to feel safe in all of

their classes and supported by all of their teachers and peers. Ultimately, the goal is for the whole

school to be on the same page, maintaining consistency in their efforts to address trauma and

stress” (Terrassi). Different types of trauma can vary amongst the patient and the situation

they’re currently in or have been in. “In Evaluation of the Trauma Patient”, John Geibel states

“The initial evaluation of a person who is injured critically from multiple trauma is a challenging

task, and every minute can make the difference between life and death.” This article mainly talks

about the different types of trauma and focuses on how the patient's feel and their condition.

Geibel focuses on the evaluation of trauma and the life afterwards and talks about death at the

scene to very mild trauma. Although it is not as traumatic, a mild trauma can still be a huge

impact on someone's life. Trauma does not only damage a person's health physically, but very

harshly mentally and the way they see life. One’s religion is another way a victim can help

support them mentally. In “Effect of Religion on End-Of-Life Care among Trauma Patients”

Shinall explains “Evidence suggests that religiousness is associated with more aggressive end-of-

life (EOL) care among terminally ill patients.” This is just to show that if a person is on the verge

of death and very ill religion will play a role in helping to support them. Prayer and healing will
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help put a victim in better state of mind and a stronger physical situation. Per say one is catholic,

he or she will receive anointing of the sick and reconciliation to help cleanse their soul in healing

from their sickness. This may lean more towards cancer and diseases but a traumatic situation

that is very critical can also be healed.

Any sorts of trauma can affect anyone but recovering from it is the key to getting back on

your feet. The physical pains can easily be aided from health professionals but mentally will be

fully up to the victim and the processes they will go through to help heal the damage that has

been done. Counseling will help people recover from the psychological detriment one has

suffered.

SECTION 3: Drug Functions on Trauma

Pain and anxiety can linger and prescription drugs can temporarily improve trauma

patient's well-being. Medication is another form of working on the behalf of trauma patients.

Different type of medication is suitable for different sorts of trauma. Per say one is sexually

abused, you wouldn't suppose that pain medication would help the victim’s well-being. A more

suitable medication would be some sort of antidepressant to help the victim get through the

rough situation one was left in. If a victim were to fall off a cliff and break their leg, a form of

pain medication would support them better in a situation. Once a patient is in the hands of

medical professionals it is now up to them to help the victims live and later recover.

In “Research questions in pre-hospital care” David Lockey explains, “The EMS

(Emergency Medical Service) systems are designed to identify seriously injured trauma patients

and transport them rapidly to a suitable hospital.” This just simply explains how medical

professionals works with common versus an uncommon traumatic situations. Technology and
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medication is the backbone of keeping a trauma victim alive. This also proves how quickly they

can suit a victim of different traumas to specific hospitals to be helped more precisely. For

example, you wouldn’t go to the dermatologist for a broken arm. Instead of having the victim’s

family help find the right hospital or doctor based off the trauma hospitals nowadays are

equipped to stabilize you at the scene and transport you to the perfect hospital.

“Pre-hospital trauma care is a relatively undeveloped research area. Many advanced

interventions are now possible, and future studies need to establish which improve survival and

reduce morbidity” (Lockey). This showing that with all the factors that are present today will

become a more successful advancement to treat a trauma patient. Lockey strongly believes how

technology and pre-hospital care are really stepping up their game, leading to higher survival

rates of traumatic situations. Pre-hospital care can now vary throughout different situations to

help the patient before arriving at the right hospital. The article concludes how hospital deaths

from major traumatic events are rapidly decreasing due to the rising of pre-hospital care by

doctors and nurses.

With the smarter, stronger, and more efficient technology in the 21st century, we are able

to improve medical care to trauma patients. In "Methoxyflurane: A Review in Trauma Pain” by

Hannah Blair, she explains, “Methoxyflurane (Penthrox) is a halogenated ether first used

clinically as a volatile inhalational anesthetic.” This simply informs the reader what the new

traumatic drug’s functions. Medication with one’s physical state is very important to not only

help a victim recover but to also feel safe and comfortable to help prevent memories which may

increase mental and physical pain to the patient. With the improvement of medication, this shows

that helping patients feel much more comfortable post trauma will really help a positive and

stronger recovery. Blair informs the readers that, “Methoxyflurane had a more rapid onset of
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action than tramadol when administered for the treatment of pain related to ankle injuries in the

emergency department”. Not only we are creating more efficient medication, patients are

actually feeling much more stable and safe while being helped especially with an applicable

drug.

Today has come through with a lot of improvements to post traumatic situation. Anxiety

and pain plays a big role in a post-traumatic situations and prescription drugs can help their well-

being. Victims should feel a stronger and safer environment while suffering through the pain

they were already in. Medication and technology improvements and technology improvement

will help increase the survival rates to physical trauma, while increasing a much greater recovery

for victims of sexual or mental assault.

SECTION 4: Support Groups

Some may argue that a traumatic situation can ruin a person’s life forever. While this is

true and depending on the willingness of the victim, they will either let the situation linger in

their life forever or move on and hopefully live a better life. PTSD is a common post traumatic

situation effect. According to the “US Department of Veteran Affairs” the department states,

“PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a

life-threatening event, like combat, natural disaster, car accident, or sexual assault.” This is very

damaging towards people of all ages, especially a child because of the future effects this can

hold. There are four types of symptoms for PTSD including, “Reliving the event, avoiding

situations that remind you of the event, having more negative beliefs and feelings, feeling keyed

up” (US Department of Veteran Affairs). This shows how effective symptoms can get to people

of all ages, especially ones from combat. Traumatic experiences work the same way. One may

avoid situations to trigger bad memories, or think about something happy to prevent negative
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thoughts about the accident. One can only do so much until they will break down into pieces, and

this is where support groups come into play. Support groups can help minimize these symptoms

to help the victims get over their traumatic experiences. People may never be able to forget, but

can connect with others who suffer and find contentment.

In “Potentially Traumatic Events as Predictors of Vicarious Trauma in Adolescents”

Bahria explains that, “Such events can cause persistent distressing symptoms between 20-90% of

children exposed reports that an average 36% of exposed children will go on to develop PTSD.”

This is just to show that while the chances are not very high, but because of such a young age it

can be a major component to smaller traumatic situations. This firmly supports my point to

demonstrate on the grounds that these are occasions that can't be forgotten, however they can be

helped with treatment or gatherings with individuals of comparable traumatic occasions.

Occasions such as rape, murders, or kidnapping are some of the major factors to high stress

levels in young adult’s life. Smaller experiences things like falling off the balcony and breaking a

bone could cause a traumatic response to similar situations in the past. Trauma can vary and be

significantly worse in an adolescent’s life versus an adult’s life.

Memories and nightmares are all mental post traumatic effects, which can all be

supported by psychotherapy, but “Indirect exposure is the least studied and understood aspect of

traumatic stress” (Bahria). This is the effect on a victim where a situation will not directly affect

them but will continue to bring up memories due to the environment or factors played in the

situation of the traumatic experience. Avoiding indirect exposure will help extend the time a

person can get away from the situation they have suffered from. The longer a person can get

away from the physical and mental state they are currently in, the sooner they can find

contentment without having complications of the situation even happening.

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Support groups will only help the mental part of the process. The physical part is up to

the victim themselves. Bahria explains, “Visiting places after occurrence of bomb blasts was

defined as physical proximity; while, emotional proximity was knowing a victim of a bomb blast

or kidnapping.” This shows how effective a location can put on a victim, other senses such as

smell and sound could also trigger a memory of the traumatic experience. These physical factors

are a major component to supporting the mental help one is receiving. A support group is meant

to create an environment where one can release all the anxiety and negative emotion one may be

holding in. This is to find support amongst peers who are going through the same situations as it

may make expressing one’s emotions easier. The environment is meant to get away from any

memories that may prompt a negative mindset to the victim. By listening to others expressing

their emotions, it will help one express their own emotions, leading to a successful recovery.

Support groups are one of the strongest and most effective rehabilitation strategies. It is

like a trauma version of an AA meeting where victims will get together to talk about what they

went through and things they did to help one find contentment. Support groups can vary, based

on the situation situation one is suffering from, to different levels of trauma to disorders of any

sort. Other support a victim may receive could also seek help through a one on one session with

a therapist to help get out their emotions to find support. These ways will only increase the

chance of a victim living a healthy, better life post trauma.

SECTION 5: Overview of Trauma

Trauma overall can affect one in the most negative way possible. The way the victim

perceives this and finds support is up to them. The sooner and more open one is to finding

contentment one can minimize a lifetime worth of recovery to months or possibly even weeks.
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Medical professionals will work on pre-hospital care in keeping a patient healthy and living, but

as witnesses and helpers we can make a victim feel much safer and comfortable in living a

normal life after.

From physical to mental trauma the type of care can vary based off each situation. If one

was to witness a shooting at their school, they would no longer feel safe at school, so as a parent

or a friend we can help support them in going back to school and prevent any memories that one

may recall if they were to enter the same classroom. If one was to be sexually assaulted we can

help the victim find the beauty in their life, despite feeling unwanted or disgusted in the world

we live in. These are just a few examples we can learn from this and apply this to our everyday

lives.

Trauma victims can come into our lives at any time because this cannot be predicted. We

can’t prevent or undo a situation that has occurred, we can only support a victim physically and

mentally, to help find recovery for them. This article can help support ourselves after a traumatic

situation and to help our fellow acquaintances recover from any traumatic situation.
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Works Cited

Affairs, US Veteran. “PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” What Is PTSD? U.S Department of

Veteran Affairs, 15 Sept. 2007

Blair, Hannah and James Frampton. "Methoxyflurane: A Review in Trauma Pain." Clinical Drug

Investigation, vol. 36, no. 12, Dec. 2016, pp. 1067-1073

Fahs, Breanne. “Sexual Violence, Disidentification, and Long-Term Trauma Recovery: A

Process-Oriented Case Study Analysis.” Ebscohost, 14 Apr. 2014

Geibel, John. “Evaluation of the Trauma Patient.” Overview, Triage and Organization of Care,

Initial Assessment, Medscape, 21 Apr. 2017

Lockey, David J. “Research Questions in Pre-Hospital Trauma Care.” PLOS Medicine, vol. 14,

no. 7, 2017

Neulinger, Sasha J. “Trauma Is Irreversible. How It Shapes Us Is Our Choice.” YouTube,

TedxTalks, 20 May 2015

Parehk, Ranna. “What Is Psychotherapy?” What Is Psychotherapy?, American Psychiatric

Association, 7 July 2016

Shinall, Myrick and Oscar Guillamondegui. "Effect of Religion on End-Of-Life Care among

Trauma Patients." Journal of Religion & Health, vol. 54, no. 3, June 2015, pp. 977-983

Terrasi, Salvatore, and Patricia Crain De Galarce. “Trauma and Learning in America’s

Classrooms.” Phi Delta Kappan, vol. 98, no. 6, 2017

University, Bahria. “Potentially Traumatic Events as Predictors of Vicarious Trauma in

Adolescents.” Ebscohost, 29 Nov. 2016