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WHAT IS TRAUMA?
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA IS AN OCCURRENCE WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF EVERYDAY HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND WHICH WOULD BE NOTABLY DISTRESSING TO ALMOST ANYONE (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION, 1987).
The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing, and that overwhelm people’s ability to cope, leaving them powerless. Trauma has sometimes been defined in reference to circumstances that are outside the realm of normal human experience. Unfortunately, this definition doesn’t always hold true. For some groups of people, trauma can occur frequently and become part of the common human experience.
In addition to terrifying events such as violence and assault, we suggest that relatively more subtle and insidious forms of trauma—such as discrimination, racism, oppression, and poverty—are pervasive and, when experienced chronically, have a cumulative impact that can be fundamentally life-altering.
Particular forms of trauma, such as intentional violence and/or witnessing violence, sustained discrimination, poverty, and ensuing chaotic life conditions are directly related to chronic fear and anxiety, with serious long-term effects on health and other life outcomes.
-Center for Nonviolence & Social Justice
The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing, and that overwhelm people’s ability to cope, leaving them powerless. Trauma has sometimes been defined in reference to circumstances that are outside the realm of normal human experience. Unfortunately, this definition doesn’t always hold true. For some groups of people, trauma can occur frequently and become part of the common human experience.
In addition to terrifying events such as violence and assault, we suggest that relatively more subtle and insidious forms of trauma—such as discrimination, racism, oppression, and poverty—are pervasive and, when experienced chronically, have a cumulative impact that can be fundamentally life-altering.
Particular forms of trauma, such as intentional violence and/or witnessing violence, sustained discrimination, poverty, and ensuing chaotic life conditions are directly related to chronic fear and anxiety, with serious long-term effects on health and other life outcomes.
-Center for Nonviolence & Social Justice
TRAUMA IS ONE OF GEORGIA'S MOST PRESSING ISSUES.
Chronic, stressful and traumatic childhood experiences are associated with enduring, re-emerging and evolving physical, cognitive, relational, behavioral, emotional, academic and economic consequences over the lifetime. This includes increased risk for:
At any given time, around 300 Athens children are in the foster system due to abuse or neglect; half of them are under 6 years old.
More than 600 Clarke County school students and their families suffer homelessness each year. Many more children and adults suffer from a range of trauma and toxic stress: domestic violence, crime, absent parents, and other.
Childhood poverty is one of the highest risk factors associated with adverse and traumatic childhood experiences. 39% of children in Athens – 8,195 – live in poverty.
- physical health disorders such as: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, respiratory disease, and digestive disease
- behavioral health disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, suicidality, and substance abuse
- high risk behaviors such as smoking, interpersonal violence, and sexual risk behaviors
- premature mortality. Prior research has also demonstrated the deleterious impact of these experiences in childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood
At any given time, around 300 Athens children are in the foster system due to abuse or neglect; half of them are under 6 years old.
More than 600 Clarke County school students and their families suffer homelessness each year. Many more children and adults suffer from a range of trauma and toxic stress: domestic violence, crime, absent parents, and other.
Childhood poverty is one of the highest risk factors associated with adverse and traumatic childhood experiences. 39% of children in Athens – 8,195 – live in poverty.
“The more adverse experiences in childhood, the greater the likelihood of developmental delays and later health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression. Research also indicates that supportive, responsive relationships with caring adults as early in life as possible can prevent or reverse the damaging effects of toxic stress response.”
– Harvard Center for the Developing Child.
“Physical injury is far from the only negative impact of maltreatment—it can also affect broader health outcomes, mental health, social development, and risk-taking behavior into adolescence and adulthood.”
– Essentials for Childhood, U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
– Harvard Center for the Developing Child.
“Physical injury is far from the only negative impact of maltreatment—it can also affect broader health outcomes, mental health, social development, and risk-taking behavior into adolescence and adulthood.”
– Essentials for Childhood, U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN ATHENS?
Over the past decade, there has been a groundswell of federal, state, and local efforts to translate research on trauma, adverse childhood experiences, toxic stress and resilience into trauma informed practices. Trauma informed care involves using what we know about trauma and its impact to do our work differently and avoid causing additional harm to those we serve.
Trauma informed systems:
However despite this increased attention nationally, Georgia still trails other regions of this country with respect to enacting state-level trauma-informed initiatives.
Trauma informed systems:
- realize the impact of trauma, toxic stress and ACEs
- recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma
- respond by fully integrating this knowledge into policies procedures and practices
- resist retraumatization (SAMSHA, NCTSN).
However despite this increased attention nationally, Georgia still trails other regions of this country with respect to enacting state-level trauma-informed initiatives.