Traumatic Disorders
What Are Traumatic Disorders?
Traumatic disorders (also known as Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders) are mental health conditions that are caused by traumatic events in a person’s life. Stressors that can cause traumatic disorders include abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, natural disasters, and more.
Unlike other types of mental health conditions, traumatic disorders have a clear cause. These disorders can cause symptoms that are similar to other conditions, such as anxiety disorders or depression. A mental health care provider can help you get an accurate diagnosis, so you can get the best possible treatment.
Types of Traumatic Disorders
People respond to trauma in a variety of ways. This means there are many types of traumatic disorders that can arise, depending on the type of stressors, symptoms, and more.
We treat traumatic disorders, including:
- Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
- Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorders
- Disorder Resulting from Childhood Trauma
Traumatic Disorders FAQ
Traumatic disorders are mental health conditions that are caused by traumatic events in a person’s life. Unlike other types of mental health conditions, traumatic disorders have a clear cause.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common trauma disorder. Eight million U.S. adults are affected by PTSD each year. The other common disorders are Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD).
Stressors that can cause traumatic disorders include abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, natural disasters, and more. These disorders can cause symptoms similar to other conditions, such as anxiety disorders or depression.
Studies have shown that trauma impacts the brain’s amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex—which all play a part in regulating emotions. This can lead to changes in someone’s thinking, behavior, and actions.
Research shows that the hippocampus can shrink as much as eight percent after trauma, causing memory loss, forgetfulness, brain fog, flashbacks, and a disjointed perception of the past.
Trauma informed care (TIC) recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma has played in someone’s life, helping mental health professionals to focus on the trauma instead of the behavior.
Talk to someone who can help. LifeStance is your online resource for finding the right mental health professionals to deal with traumatic disorders, and other related mental health issues.
