Trauma affects people in many different ways, and no one the same way. It affects the ways people think, who they trust, who they allow themselves to be around, and their mental/social well-being. This extreme stress affects peoples ability to cope with what has happened and this inability to cope changes how people behave. People who have experienced trauma may experience behavioral changes, physicals symptoms indicative of mental illness, poor adherence to proper medical regimen, anxiety, etc. Socially, these people may become withdrawn and avoid seeking medical care and miss necessary appointments. Some ACES, or adverse childhood experiences, that put you at higher risk of being impacted by trauma are physical or sexual abuse, neglect (can be physical or emotional), mental illness, parental divorce, substance abuse, etc. Experiencing these event have long-term impacts on these children that affect them long into their adulthood if they don’t seek the proper help.
I will take what I’ve learned and use it to be more trauma informed when taking care of my patients. This will help me understand why someone might be reluctant to seek help or when they seek help why they may not feel comfortable sharing their entire story. By being understanding and forming rapport with my patients, the goal is they will feel more comfortable sharing their needs with me. I now know how to be respectful, that taking my time is important, and rapport are the best ways to practice trauma informed care. You want to make the patient feel safe because if they do not feel safe they are not going to share their trauma and it will be harder to help them.
