Coping With Trauma

The Causes of Emotional Trauma



Medical science has studied the causes and effects of emotional trauma for many decades - in men returning from war. It wasn't until the woman's movement in the 1960's that doctors realized the traumatic experiences of women can also cause emotional trauma. That's about the time that "shell shock" became post-traumatic stress disorder. Medically, the 1990's became the "decade of the brain" and much more is understood about emotional trauma and its causes.

The Emotional Toll

Science was a bit taken aback when it was discovered that it is not the event that causes emotional trauma, but the way it's experienced. This gives trauma experienced emotionally something in common with trauma experienced physically. It isn't how far you fall that matters; it's how hard you land. For most people, the experience that leads to emotional trauma has three things in common: it was not expected, the victim was not prepared and there was nothing the person could do to prevent it.

Brain scan studies have revealed that emotional trauma changes the brain's structure and function. So it isn't "all in your mind." It is really in your brain. This is an important finding, since it places emotional trauma in the realm of physical illness. In the past, those who suffered emotional distress could feel embarrassed about the problem. Many were unable to seek the necessary help because of this and some found no sympathy from family and friends.

The key to knowing when help is needed is in the severity of symptoms and length of time that symptoms last. A doctor will want to know whether the patient is re-experiencing the traumatic event through uncontrollable thoughts, flashbacks, dreams or a re-living of the emotions associated with the event. If these continue the result can be eating or sleeping disturbances, loss of energy and even chronic pain.

Emotionally, symptoms include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, feelings of fear, obsessive behavior, irritability, emotional numbness, and a desire to withdraw from normal activities. Family and friends may notice memory lapses, a difficulty in making decisions, lack of concentration and becoming easily distracted.

Usually, someone suffering from emotional trauma will be directed to talk therapies to help gain some control. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy aims to change thoughts and actions and can involve reducing sensitivity to stressors. Sometimes relaxation techniques are used or hypnosis. Without help, emotional trauma can lead to substance abuse, self-destructive behavior, feelings of shame, despair, guilt hopelessness, or ineffectiveness, and a loss of one's former belief system.

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Mother tells of trauma as son is paraded on television

30 Mar 07 00:04:00 UTC
Times Online - The mother of one of the soldiers held by Iran said last night that she was traumatised after seeing the footage of the British troops. Sandra Sperry said that her son Adam, 22, had been trying to help the people of Iraq when he was detained last ...

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Coping With Trauma

Symptoms Of Dental Trauma



Dental trauma is injury to any part of the mouth area including teeth, gums, tongue, jaw and lips. The most common dental injury is broken teeth or even knocked out teeth. These traumas can be caused by accidents, fights, scalding liquids and sports. The symptoms of dental trauma depend entirely on the type of injury that has occurred. Cuts and burns can lead to painful swelling and sometimes bleeding. Sometimes broken teeth can lead to toothaches while a knocked out tooth can leave the gums swollen and bloody. Problems with the jawbone tend to be more serious and can sometimes lead to a misaligned jaw.

Anyone who has suffered from dental trauma should visit a dentist as soon as possible to ascertain the effect of the trauma and the subsequent treatment that is needed. A dentist uses x-rays on the mouth to find out the total extent of the damage caused by the dental trauma. This can be easier for the patient than a full physical examination at first due to the pain that can come from dental injury. The sooner the treatment begins the better in most cases of this trauma as it can avoid more serious long-term effects. Dental trauma can be extremely painful in a lot of cases and the patient may need some type of anesthetic before any treatment can begin.

Treatment For Dental Trauma

Different types of dental trauma require different treatments. For soft tissue injuries such as cuts and swelling, cold compresses can be used to reduce the swelling and the bleeding can be eased by putting pressure on the laceration. Sometimes stitches are required although with a lot of lip injuries, the lip has to be left to heal naturally. Painkillers can help with the pain. Broken teeth require the mouth to be rinsed out in order to clean the area. The sooner a dentist is visited, the greater the chance of saving the tooth. Dentists often advise people to hold on to the tooth or any broken bit after dental trauma, keeping them moist is essential. When the entire tooth has been knocked out, it is important to hold it by the crown rather than the root. After such a trauma, the dentist will try to save all of the teeth, although this is not always possible and sometimes an artificial crown or tooth is needed.

Dental trauma that leads to a broken jaw requires the jaw to be set back into its rightful position and may need wires to hold it into place. The healing process can take up to six weeks for this type of injury. It is important to see the dentist as soon as possible when the jaw has been broken as delays in treatment can result in a much longer and more painful recovery time. With any dental trauma, infections can easily set in and it is important to continue to take good care of the injured area and avoid further damage. Most dental traumas can be easily treated and heal in time as long as proper care is taken of the area.

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County man died from blunt trauma (Lake County News Sun)

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:03:52 GMT
A Highland Park business man who was killed when the mast broke on a whale-watching catamaran, sinking the boat, died of blunt trauma to the head, an autopsy found Tuesday. Hawaii authorities are still investigating what caused the Kiele V's mast to fall Sunday on Hal Pulfer, 48. Colleagues say they will remember him as a family man and business visionary.

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