What is Trauma?
When we hear the word trauma, many of us think of extreme events — combat, natural disasters, or violence. But the truth is, trauma touches far more lives than we realize, and its impact can take many forms.
This week’s Resolve to Rise series explored the question: What is trauma, and how does it affect us? Here’s a deeper look at what you need to know.
Who Experiences Trauma?
Trauma doesn’t discriminate — it touches almost all of us.
Globally, about 70% of people will experience a traumatic event during their lifetime (Benjet et al., 2016).
In the U.S., it’s closer to 9 out of 10 (Kilpatrick et al., 2013).
Traumatic experiences know no limits — not gender, age, culture, or income. And it’s not only about military service. Trauma can touch anyone, anywhere.
If you think you've been impacted by a traumatic experience, you’re not alone.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma isn’t just about what happened. Two people can undergo the same event, and one may recover quickly while the other is shaken for years.
What makes the difference?
It’s about how the experience lands in your body and mind:
Did it overwhelm your ability to cope?
Did it leave you feeling powerless, unsafe, or disconnected from yourself?
That’s what makes something traumatic. For some, the impact fades over time. For others, it leaves lasting impacts — even PTSD.
The 5 Most Common Traumatic Experiences
The most common traumatic experiences include:
Sudden loss of a loved one
Witnessing serious injury or death
Physical assault
Sexual violence
Serious accidents
But trauma isn’t always physical. Emotional neglect, chronic invalidation, workplace abuse, micro-aggressions, or being gaslighted are just a few things that can overwhelm us just as deeply.
What Is a Trauma Response?
You don’t need be diagnosed with PTSD to have trauma responses — and they still matter.
Not everyone who goes through trauma develops PTSD. Many never receive a diagnosis at all. But that doesn’t mean there was no impact. Trauma can leave short-lived or lingering responses that affect how we live, relate, and feel.
For instance, you may notice intense anxiety or an overactive nervous system, feeling triggered by something as ordinary as a conversation, a place, or even an unreturned message or call.
Experiences Most Linked to PTSD
While any traumatic event can leave a lasting impact, some traumatic experiences are more strongly associated with PTSD:
Combat exposure
Sexual assault
Childhood abuse or neglect
Repeated or prolonged trauma (such as domestic violence or trafficking)
The risk increases if you felt helpless, feared for your life, were betrayed by someone you trusted, or lacked support after the event.
Final Thoughts
Trauma is far more common — and far more human — than many of us realize. But recognizing it is the first step toward healing. Whether your experience was physical, emotional, or prolonged over time, what matters most is not what happened but how it left you.
Whatever your story…
Here’s the truth:
You are not alone.
You are not broken.
Healing is within your grasp.
For videos about trauma and healing.
For more blogs about trauma and healing.
References
Benjet, C., Bromet, E., Karam, E. G., Kessler, R. C., McLaughlin, K. A., Ruscio, A. M., … Koenen, K. C. (2016). The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: Results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. Psychological Medicine, 46(2), 327–343. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291715001981
Kilpatrick, D. G., Resnick, H. S., Milanak, M. E., Miller, M. W., Keyes, K. M., & Friedman, M. J. (2013). National estimates of exposure to traumatic events and PTSD prevalence using DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(5), 537–547. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21848
