Overall, when examining the effects of trauma on the mind, researchers have found that exposure to trauma can lead to various difficulties with mental health. We’ll dive into this research below.
Before we begin any discussion about the effects of trauma, it is important to remind ourselves that healing and resilience are possible. Many factors can prevent these effects from occurring in the first place, and many factors can lead to their healing if they have occurred.
Our purpose here is to learn about potential ways trauma can adversely impact people, so that we can then use this knowledge to create trauma-informed, healing ministries.
If you begin to feel overwhelmed at any point when reading this article, please pause and seek guidance from a trained mental health professional, a trusted friend, or a mentor.
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Mental Illness and Trauma
Overall, those who have experienced trauma are more likely to have a mental health diagnosis, more severe mental health disorder symptoms, and multiple mental health disorders (1).
Specifically, depression and anxiety are more common in those who have experienced trauma (2).
In one study with college students, for example, those who experienced more trauma were more likely to have more depression symptoms, especially sadness, loss of pleasure and interest in things they would normally like, suicidal thoughts, feelings of worthlessness, and irritability (3).
In another study conducted with prisoners, those who had experienced more trauma had a higher likelihood of being in treatment for depression or anxiety (4).
In addition, some types of trauma are more likely to lead to these outcomes than others, especially betrayal trauma or trauma perpetrated by someone the victim is close to.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health disorder that is specifically caused by exposure to trauma. There are four major symptom clusters involved in this disorder.
First, there are reexperiencing symptoms, which means that being exposed to things that remind the person of their trauma, such as someone who looks like the perpetrator or certain sights, smells, or sounds, can cause severe anxiety. They may also have intrusive thoughts about the trauma or sleep disturbances.
All of this can then lead to a second cluster of symptoms, which is avoidance, or things someone might do to bring relief from the anxiety, such as avoiding certain things.
Third, a person may experience negative changes in mood, such as hopelessness and feelings of detachment from others, and in thinking, such as memory problems.
Additionally, PTSD can change a person’s physical and emotional reactions to things, so a person may be frightened more easily, have trouble sleeping or concentrating, have angry outbursts, and feel always on guard (5).
Researchers are still trying to figure out precisely what causes PTSD to develop.
One theory is that after trauma, people may create new views of themselves and the world because the trauma either disconfirms their ideas that the world is safe and they can handle life’s challenges, or confirms their views that they are not safe and they are incompetent. PTSD may be a result of that disconfirmation or confirmation of their views (5).
Researchers have also found that those with PTSD have more anger, so that may be another cause (6).
Trauma’s Impacts on Thoughts
Trauma can also alter thought patterns, making them more negative. Those with trauma are more likely to have low self-esteem and identity confusion (2), as well as difficulty knowing one is safe and with self-awareness (Source: The Body Keeps the Score)
Conclusion: The Effects of Trauma on the Mind
As we have seen, researchers have found that those exposed to trauma can develop difficulties with mental health and with their views of themselves and the world as a result of the trauma.
There is hope for healing and resilience following exposure to trauma. If you or someone you know may be suffering from these adverse effects of trauma, please visit the healing resources page to begin your healing journey.
Finally, to learn more about the impacts of trauma on the mind and other areas of life, I recommend picking up a copy of The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.