Trauma

Trauma is an emotional, physical, or psychological response to an event or experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. It can result from a single event, such as an accident, assault, loss, natural disaster, or workplace crisis, or from repeated or prolonged experiences such as abuse, discrimination, caregiving stress, violence, or chronic instability.

Trauma can affect how someone feels, thinks, works, relates to others, and experiences safety. Some people may notice anxiety, numbness, irritability, sleep changes, trouble concentrating, avoidance, guilt, or a sense of being constantly on alert. Others may not recognize the impact right away, because responses to trauma can look different from person to person.

Trauma is not a sign of weakness, and support should meet each person where they are. Care may include therapy, trauma-informed care, crisis support, medication management when appropriate, or help navigating the right level of care. For some people, trauma may also be connected to PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use concerns, grief, or other mental health needs.In the workplace, trauma can affect attendance, focus, trust, communication, and overall emotional wellbeing.

Employers can support employees by offering clear access to care, manager training, critical incident response, flexible support when appropriate, and mental health benefits that help people connect with care as their needs change.