If you have experienced a traumatic event, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, trauma is prevalent in our society.  An estimated 1 in 5 adults have experienced physical or sexual abuse during childhood.

It’s common to experience a range of different emotions following a trauma event

Avoiding things that relate to or remind you of a traumatic event is a common way of managing the impact of trauma

The way that you see yourself, other people and the world can change after a trauma

Some people increase their use of alcohol or substances following a trauma. This is often an attempt to block out painful memories, thoughts or feelings related to the trauma

Unwanted thoughts, nightmares and vivid images that intrude into your mind uninvited are all common responses to trauma.

Feeling on edge or on high alert is also a common response to trauma. This can include feeling jumpy, jittery, shaky, easily startled, or having trouble concentrating or sleeping

When a loved one goes through a traumatic event, it can be hard to know what you can do or how you can help. It’s important to know that everyone responds and makes sense of trauma differently, and can have different needs

Following a traumatic event, your brain can stay in survival mode and the alarm can keep on ringing. This can make it difficult to use the thinking part of your brain to make sense of trauma.

Recovering from the impact of trauma takes time. Everybody heals at their own pace and in their own way. But if months have passed since the events and your trauma reaction is getting in the way of your everyday life, you may need to get professional help.

This video was designed to be relevant to the Scottish workforce in understanding how trauma affects people and how we can all work together to make a positive difference to people affected by trauma and adversity.

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