Trauma

Trauma is an emotional response to an extremely difficult, often tragic event such as an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Immediately after the traumatic event, an individual may experience shock and / or denial, along with unpredictable and fluctuating emotions, flashbacks, nausea, headaches, and disorientation. As a result, individuals may withdraw from life and experience symptoms of anxiety and depression.

PTSD

PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder can develop in individuals after an extremely traumatic event such as a crime, combat, an accident, or natural disasters. People with PTSD may experience a reliving of the trauma through intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares. Individuals struggling with PTSD often experience symptoms of anxiety and depression as well.

 

Grief

Grief is a normal response to coping with a loss. The experience of loss includes the loss of a family member, friend, or pet, the termination of a relationship or the loss of good health. Loss is both a universal and personal experience and each individual’s experience of grief varies and is influenced by the nature of the loss. While each person is unique in their grieving process, they usually move through the following stages developed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross:  

1. Denial

2. Anger

 3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance