Trauma is a deeply distressing experience which can be emotionally, mentally, or physically overwhelming for a person. An experience doesn’t have to be life-threatening, a one-off, or unexpected to be considered traumatic. For example, bullying, neglect, abuse, assault, violence, or the death of a loved one could all be traumatic experiences.
It is normal to experience strong or overwhelming emotions after a traumatic experience. But if these emotions last a long time, get worse over time, or interfere with a person’s day-to-day life, symptoms of mental ill-health may also arise. Trauma can sometimes lead to a person experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder.
With the right support, it is possible to recover from trauma-related mental ill-health.