We know that language used around trauma can be tricky to navigate and different people like to use different terms. We wanted to briefly describe the following terms that we’ve chosen to use:

• ‘traumatic event’ - an event or experience that causes trauma

• ‘trauma’ - the impact of the traumatic event on the mind and body

• ‘trauma survivor’ - someone who has had a traumatic experience, regardless of the traumatic event; we know that some people who experience trauma like to identify themselves as survivors, however we also recognise that not everybody does. Although we use the term trauma survivor, it's up to you how you choose to refer to yourself

• ‘symptoms’ - the effects, challenges, reactions or responses that someone experiences after a traumatic event; we know that some people like to use the term symptoms because it helps them seperate the impact of the trauma from themselves, however others feel it’s too medicalised. Although we use the term symptoms, it's up to you how you choose to describe the effects of your trauma

Trauma, PTSD and C-PTSD can be caused by one or many traumatic experiences. Traumatic experiences can be single events or a series of repeat or prolonged events that happen over a period of time. Traumatic experiences can also be a series of multiple events, witnessing harm to somebody else or exposure to traumatic events through work, living in a traumatic atmosphere or being affected by trauma in a family or community. There are many examples of traumatic events, which include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Abuse, including domestic or emotional

• Adverse childhood experiences

• Bereavement by suicide

• Childbirth experiences or losing a baby

• Exposure to traumatic events through work

• Physical or sexual assault

• Road traffic accident

• Serious health problems

• Sudden death of a loved one

• War, conflict or terrorism

If you've experienced something traumatic, it's normal to have reactions and responses (symptoms) that you may not have experienced before in the days and weeks afterwards. This is sometimes called an "acute stress reaction". Often these symptoms will go away on their own after a few weeks, but if after a month you're still experiencing them, you might be given a diagnosis of PTSD or C-PTSD. To get a diagnosis, you must seek advice from a healthcare professional.

Trauma is a stress response to an event or series of events that are deeply distressing, stressful or frightening or threaten or cause physical or emotional harm to you or someone else. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD) are specific diagnoses you can be given if you are experiencing particular symptoms after a traumatic event. You can still be struggling with the effects of trauma without an official diagnosis from a healthcare professional. Getting a diagnosis can help with getting appropriate treatment and support.

Trauma can display a range of different symptoms and traumatic stress affects people in different ways, so no two people will experience it in exactly the same way even if they have very similar experiences. To get an official diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms fall into four main categories and you must experience a certain number of symptoms from each category. The diagnosis for C-PTSD is similar, with additional symptoms. You may still be experiencing trauma, even if you don’t have an official diagnosis. Here are the official list of symptoms of PTSD:

Re-experiencing symptoms

- Unwanted memories

- Nightmares

- Flashbacks

- Feeling very upset by reminders of the experience

- Physical responses to reminders of the experience

Avoidance

- Avoiding reminders of the experience

- Avoiding memories thoughts or feelings

Cognition and mood

- Difficulty remembering details of the experience

- Blaming yourself or someone else

- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy

- Negative beliefs about yourself, others or the world

- Feeling distant or cut off from others

- Overwhelming feelings of horror, guilt or shame

- Trouble experiencing positive feelings

Arousal and reactivity

-Feeling jumpy or easily startled

-Being “superalert”, watchful or on guard

-Taking too many risks or doing things that could cause you harm

-Difficulty concentrating

-Trouble falling or staying asleep

​​-Irritable behavior, angry outbursts, or acting aggressively

Additional C-PTSD symptoms

-Difficulty controlling your emotions

-Feeling like no one understands or as though you are completely different to others

-Feeling as if you are permanently damaged or worthless

-Struggling with or avoiding friendships or relationships

-Experiencing dissociative symptoms such as depersonalisation or derealisation

-Physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or chest pains or physical health issues

-Feeling very angry or distrustful of the world

-Experiencing suicidal feelings

It’s common that someone who has experienced a traumatic event may not recognise their experience as such, or may not feel they are able to or that it’s valid to call it traumatic, compared to the experience of someone else. It’s also common that they may not relate the symptoms that they start to have with their traumatic experience. Sometimes people can be affected by a traumatic event straight away, and other times it may take years before people start to experience symptoms, this is called delayed onset trauma. Even if their symptoms do start soon after the incident, it may be years before some people identify their symptoms.

You can find more information on trauma, PTSD and C-PTSD:

• NHS Website

  • https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/overview/

• PTSD UK

  • https://www.ptsduk.org/

• Mind Charity

  • https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/about-ptsd/

  • https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/complex-ptsd/

  • https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/trauma/about-trauma/

There are also many charities that offer information and support on particular traumatic experiences.