Many people suffer from trauma, and frequently it has long-lasting effects. Trauma occurs when people are in situations that are emotionally and/or physically painful, distressing, or overwhelming. When we have suffered a trauma, we may feel as if we are frozen, and, at times may struggle with managing day-to-day routines. It may lead to long-term health and mental health struggles.
For the majority of us, trauma results from an experience that occurs outside of the normal daily experience. Examples include the loss of a job, loss of a loved one, being the victim of a crime, receiving a cancer diagnosis, natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, fires, etc. Some trauma comes from continuing experiences over time, like witnessing or experiencing domestic or sexual violence, child abuse, and being exposed to violence in war conditions. It is the human experience to suffer from varying degrees of trauma throughout our lives. However, as individuals we all react to and manage these events differently.
Between 1995 and 1997 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the insurance group, Kaiser Permanente, joined together to study 17,000 people to assess connections between early childhood trauma and later life health and wellbeing. This was called the Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey (ACES). The ACES findings suggest that certain experiences are major risk factors for the leading causes of illness and death as well as poor quality of life in the United States. It is critical to understand how some of the worst health and social problems in our nation can arise as a consequence of adverse childhood experiences. The financial and social costs of trauma include medical, mental health, substance abuse, employment, law enforcement, corrections, and more. The financial costs conservatively estimate into the billions of dollars every year. As we realize the connections between trauma and its impact, we can work together to improve efforts towards prevention and recovery.
If you or someone you love has experienced trauma and you are worried, depressed or overwhelmed, there is help in the community. You can reach out to the Tioga County Department of Mental Hygiene (687-4000) or A New Hope Center (687-6866).
By Francis J. Bialy, executive director of A New Hope Center and Donna Corbin, director of The Southern Tier Services Office for Glove House, Inc.
