February 02, 2026
Trauma Informed Care
In life, everyone has had their share of adversity that they must overcome. However, individuals who have survived trauma, wounds may be lasting and carried throughout their lifetime. When
caring for survivors of trauma, it is imperative that healthcare providers not only recognize the unique care needs required but also incorporate these needs into the care plan. The entire care team must be aware of the patient’s history and traumatic events to be able to provide the highest quality of care.
Let us understand trauma. Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that an individual may experience and perceive to be harmful physically, emotionally, and even life threatening. Trauma has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, or spiritual wellbeing (Kinder 2020).
Examples of Traumatic Events Include:
- physical pain or injury (e.g., severe car accident)
- cultural or historical violence (ex: holocaust)
- serious illness
- war or violence (witnessed violence)
- natural disasters
- medical Interventions
- intimate partner abuse
- witnessing a death
- physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual abuse
- incarceration within the criminal justice system
- grief and loss
Common Responses to Traumatic Events include:
- repeated memories of the event or flashbacks
- nightmares
- intense fear that the traumatic event will recur, particularly around anniversaries of the event (or when going back to the scene of the original event)
- withdrawal and isolation from day-to-day activities
- continued avoidance of reminders of the event
- shifts in mood or changes in thought patterns
- irritability
- sudden, dramatic mood shifts
- anxiety and nervousness
- anger
- denial
- depression that can commonly occur along with traumatic stress
- difficulty concentrating
- altered sleeping or insomnia
- physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches and nausea
- worsening of an existing medical condition
In performing assessments of patients and/or when making the initial contact, it is imperative that the provider asks about any traumatic events the patient may have experienced. It is beneficial to have knowledge of any traumatic experiences the patient may have encountered or endured so the entire care team can provide trauma informed care.
Physical Symptoms of Trauma include:
- Insomnia
- Heart palpitations
- Muscle tension
- Loss of interest in intimacy (sex)
- Reproductive issues
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Substance abuse
Emotional Symptoms of Trauma:
- Easily startled
- Outbursts of anger or rage
- Emotional swings
- Fear. Depression, and anxiety
- Self-blame
- Survivor guilt
- Shame
- Nightmares
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Social Symptoms of Trauma:
- Isolation
- Detachment
- Trust Issues
- Loss of interest in activities
Patients may incorporate defense mechanisms, such as denial and disassociation, into their daily routine to protect themselves from harm or perceived harm. These mechanisms tend to be automatic and may prove to do more harm than good.
Denial involves a person failing to accept the trauma that happened to protect themselves from fear and anxiety.
Dissociation is the mental separation of the survivor from their normal thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of self. Dissociation may provide the survivor with a disconnected feeling from the present and immediate surroundings, as if they are outside themselves and watching from a distance.
It is important to remember when providing the highest quality of care, it is crucial to avoid triggers that may result in the patient reliving the traumatic event.
Resources:
Traumatic Events: Causes, Effects, and Management
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10940237/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11083630/
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/trauma-informed-care/