Simply put, what is trauma?

The ability of an individual to cope with or integrate the concepts and feelings involved in a traumatic incident may be fully overwhelmed by a single encounter or by the repetition or accumulation of several traumas.

Recent studies have shown that everyday events like car accidents, losing a job or a loved one suddenly, experiencing humiliation or profound disappointment, or learning that you have a terminal illness or a disability may all lead to psychological and emotional stress.

Even if no physical harm was done, persons who experienced a traumatic incident may suffer severe psychological consequences.

Negative consequences on one's mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are possible results of such a situation.

Whatever the cause, trauma always has these three components:

• It caught them off guard, left them unprepared, and left them unable to stop it.

• To put it another way, no one can prevent traumatic experiences from happening.

• The individual's reaction to and interpretation of the occurrence are what ultimately decide whether or not something is traumatic.

Those who have a strong sense of community after the event (whether through friends, family, religious affiliations, etc.) and who have had the opportunity to discuss and work through the traumatic experience are more likely to be able to incorporate it into their lives as they would any other experience.

Simply put, what is trauma?