The term mental illness has become a dirty word. The truth is, there are so many people who walk about with pain that linger from experiences of their past. People experienced trauma and responded to it in various ways. Not everyone is equipped or even knows how to deal with some forms of trauma. That is why folks like soldiers returning from the battlefield are provided with special treatment. However, they are not the only one, and as such, we must be sensitive to people’s emotional pain as much as we are to their physical pain
Trauma is a term that I became familiar with in my work as a chaplain. What is trauma? "It is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster." the trauma response is what clinicians and chaplains encounter when we see these patients. These responses are shock, denial, flashbacks, strained relationships, or even headaches.
My interaction with trauma shows up in some of the poems written in my book Reflection: A Poetic Journey through Clinical Pastoral Education. It is important for individuals who have a traumatic experience to seek professional help.
Sometimes, the trauma response lay dormant, only to be manifested later, hence the term post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). This happens when conditions similar to the traumatic experience encountered prior are seen, heard, or experienced. These are emotional traumas and can linger for a long time.
There is also physical trauma. This is the physical effects of accidents, violence, etc. It is described as a severe injury to the body. There is blunt force trauma, such as when the body is struck by an object or force. Similar to that is penetrating trauma, such as when something pierces the body.
Emotional or physical trauma has a disrupting effect, which is not limited to the person experiencing it but spills over into the lives of people in his or her immediate environment. I encourage you to show compassion to people who are hurting, especially those in mental anguish. Be a helping hand if you can.
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