What is Trauma?
What is trauma?
Trauma refers to the psychological, emotional, and physiological impact of life-threatening or deeply distressing experiences that overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope.
What is acute trauma?
A single distressing event.
What is the first principle of TIC?
Realizing the widespread impact of trauma and understanding paths for recovery
How does trauma affect pain perception?
Increases sensitivity to pain
How should you ask about a patient’s trauma history?
In a sensitive and non-judgmental way.
What are the two parts of the nervous system that trauma can impact?
The amygdala and hippocampus.
What is chronic trauma?
Repeated exposure to harmful situations, such as domestic violence or emotional abuse.
What is the goal of patient-centered care in a trauma-informed approach?
To involve patients in decision-making, empowering them and reducing feelings of helplessness.
What type of pain might trauma survivors experience without a clear physical cause?
Somatic pain.
What’s one way to make your clinic environment trauma-sensitive?
Create a calm and welcoming space
Name one physical symptom that trauma survivors may experience.
Headaches, back pain, gastrointestinal issues, or chronic fatigue.
What is complex trauma?
Multiple or prolonged traumatic experiences, often related to interpersonal violence or neglect
How does TIC help avoid re-traumatization?
Maintaining clear, respectful communication, allowing breaks, and explaining all procedures in advance.
What is the role of emotional regulation in chronic pain?
Trauma survivors may struggle with emotional dysregulation, which can exacerbate pain.
What does empowering the patient look like in a trauma-informed clinical setting?
Offering choices and involving patients in their treatment plans.
How does trauma affect the nervous system's response to threats?
Activates the fight, flight, or freeze response.
What is systemic trauma?
Systemic trauma is caused by discrimination, socio-economic marginalization, or unequal access to healthcare.
How does TIC integrate knowledge into clinical practices and policies?
By ensuring that treatment plans address both the physical and emotional aspects of pain.
How do trauma survivors perceive pain?
Pain is often linked to past experiences of threat.
How can healthcare providers respect patient boundaries during physical exams or treatments?
By providing options for breaks and allowing the patient to control the pace of the exam or treatment.
What is central sensitization, and how is it related to trauma?
Increased sensitivity of the nervous system, causing normal sensations to be perceived as painful, often linked to trauma.
How can emotional trauma lead to chronic pain?
If unaddressed, emotional trauma can manifest in chronic pain as the body expresses unresolved emotional distress.
Name two ways healthcare providers can resist re-traumatization in their practice.
Answer options: Avoiding triggering experiences (e.g., sudden or invasive procedures) and ensuring patient autonomy (e.g., offering choices during treatments).
Name one cognitive or emotional factor that can amplify the experience of pain in trauma survivors.
Answer options: Negative thought patterns, helplessness, or anxiety.
What changes can be made to clinic policies to support trauma-informed care?
Flexible scheduling, creating safe environments, and revising policies to accommodate patients' emotional needs more.