Trauma impacts us physically, emotionally, mentally, and psychologically.
Repetition and re–experiencing can occur immediately, as well as many years after a traumatic experience.
Ambiguity occurs when we feel as though we are living in two worlds. It also occurs when we have a sense that those who care about us are physically present and psychologically absent (such as family members with depression), or physically absent and psychologically present (such as a missing family member). Finding meaning, tempering mastery, reconstructing identities, and discovering hope are all necessary. (Boss, 2006)
Uncertainty occurs during and after traumas. We may not know the immediate or long–term impacts on our lives.
Motivational concerns — living with the effects of traumas can make us exhausted and unclear about how to respond to or overcome the traumatic event.
Anxiety and depression can occur after a trauma and may need clinical management by a doctor, social worker, psychologist, counsellor or psychiatrist. Complementary medicine practitioners may also assist.
Sadness and loss may result depending on the trauma as well as simply due to the trauma. Feeling sad for ourselves and what we have lost can be a part of the process of managing the trauma and can sometimes have a surprising consequence.