Trauma, Development, and Spirituality
Isabell C Lindva
Liberty University
Trauma, Development, and Spirituality
Trauma could be defined as any circumstances that are outside the realm of normal human experience. This definition doesn’t describe all traumas, unfortunately. Trauma could also be a daily experience that will become a part of a common human experience (Center of nonviolence and social justice, 2014). Judith Herman stated in her book trauma and recovery; “Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life” (p. 33) Traumatic events could be anything from physical, emotional and sexual abuse, natural disasters, bullying, child neglect, terrorism, sudden or unnatural deaths and any other event that goes beyond a person’s natural ability to cope (Heim, Newport, Mletzko, Miller, & Nemeroff, 2008).
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network states that trauma is experienced in two different sets of circumstances for children and adolescents. There is the acute traumatic events, were the event occur at a particular time and place and are usually short-lived like a school shooting, were you can have overwhelming feelings of terror, horror, or helplessness. Serious accidents, sudden or violent loss of a loved one, natural disaster are some other examples of acute traumatic events. Second set of circumstances are the chronic traumatic situations, where a range of responses can happen, including loss of trust in others, decreased sense of personal safety, guilt, shame, and including intense feelings of fear. These responses can come from long standing sexual abuse, domestic violence, physical abuse, or even wars (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network).
When children are exposed to traumatic events during their childhood, the risk for health problems later on in their adult life increases: such as suicide attempts, depression,...