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Tipos de traumas

Los traumas y eventos traumáticos pueden producirse de muchas maneras diferentes . Abajo se presentan algunas definiciones y ejemplos de cómo pueden ocurrir los traumas .

Evento único: Este tipo de trauma se produce una sola vez, por ejemplo, un accidente de automóvil.

Evento crónico: Este tipo de trauma cons is te en una serie de eventos que ocurren a lo largo de un tiempo determinado, por ejemplo, la pandemia de la COVID.

Trauma del desarrollo: Este tipo de trauma ocurre en la niñez temprana. Por lo general, es crónico. Un ejemplo de es te tipo de trauma es tener cáncer a los 5 años de edad y pasar muchos meses hospitalizado.

Trauma en una relación: Este tipo de trauma es causado por alguien con quien tienes una relación. Un ejemplo de es te tipo de traumas es sufrir abusos fís icos de un padre, una madre o un(a) cuidador(a).

Trauma complejo: Este es el tipo de trauma que sufre una persona que ha vivido muchos tipos dis tintos de eventos traumáticos . Un ejemplo de es te tipo es alguien cuyos padres se divorciaron cuando era pequeño, vio cómo un miembro de su familia sufría un accidente automovilís tico grave y sufrió abusos por parte de una persona que lo cuidaba cuando era adolescente.

Trauma intergeneracional: En este caso, las respues tas al trauma son transmitidas de una generación a otra por las personas que sufrieron un trauma. E s to puede incluir un trauma que afecta a una sola persona, a varios miembros de una familia o a una comunidad entera. E jemplos de es te tipo de trauma son la esclavitud y el Holocaus to.

Ejemplos específicos de eventos traumáticos:

  • Desastres naturales como los huracanes , las inundaciones o los tornados
  • Accidentes como los accidentes de automóvil o los incendios
  • Abusos , ya sean físicos , mentales o sexuales
  • Abandono
  • Fallecimiento de un ser querido o una amistad cercana
  • Eventos médicos , como una cirugía o una enfermedad crónica
  • Eventos escolares , como el acoso escolar o los tiroteos en los colegios
  • Eventos comunitarios , como los disturbios o los altos niveles de delincuencia
  • Eventos interpersonales como la violencia doméstica
  • Guerras y genocidios como el Holocaus to
  • Trata de seres humanos

¿ Cómo s e manifies ta el trauma?

Las personas s ienten y afrontan los traumas de manera diferente.

Dos personas pueden sufrir el mismo trauma y, sin embargo, responder de manera diferente. Algunas personas podrían mostrar signos de estrés traumático, mientras que otras podrían manifes tar pocos indicios o ninguno.

Las personas pueden responder a los traumas de manera diferente dependiendo de su edad. Los niños que pasan por un evento traumático podrían mojar la cama, apegarse más a su madre, a su padre o a la persona que los cuida, o representar el evento traumático cuando están jugando.

Los adolescentes pueden actuar de manera grosera, ser descons iderados o tomar decisiones que no son sanas . Los adultos podrían sentirse enfadados , evitar a los demás o actuar de forma agresiva consigo mismos o con los demás .

 

Estos son algunos indicios de que una persona puede haber experimentado un evento traumático:

  • Signos de depresión: Puede estar triste o sentirse deprimida, perder interés en sus actividades favoritas , sentirse desesperanzada, tener problemas para dormir o dormir demasiado, podría comer menos o mucho más de lo acostumbrado.
  • Signos de ansiedad: Puede tener ataques de pánico, preocuparse o sentirse abrumada.
  • Cambios en las emociones : Puede mos trarse más enojada o irritable.
  • Concentración: Puede tener dificultades para fijar su atención o concentrarse, o volverse más olvidadiza.
  • Problemas de salud: Puede sentirse más cansada, tener jaquecas o dolores de etómago, o resfriarse más fácilmente.

Estrés Traumático

Cuando alguien experimenta un trauma, puede provocarle estrés traumático.

Se puede experimentar un trauma cuando:

  1. Una persona pasa por un evento traumático.
  2. Una persona ve cómo alguien pasa por un evento traumático o se entera de quealguien ha sufrido un evento traumático.

El trastorno de estrés postraumático es el diagnóstico que recibe alguien que experimentaun trauma y desarrolla síntomas que le dificultan funcionar en su vida diaria.

El estrés postraumático puede causar síntomas como:

  • Experimentar el trauma de nuevo en forma de flashbacks, pesadillas o pensamientosperturbadores.
  • Evitar lugares, eventos, personas, objetos, pensamientos y sentimientos que haganrecordar la experiencia traumática.
  • Sentirse tenso o sobresaltarse con facilidad.
  • Estar demasiado consciente de uno mismo o de lo que le rodea
  • Problemas para dormir.
  • Disgustarse con facilidad, tener estallidos temperamentales, sentirse irritable omalhumorado.
  • Sentirse culpable o reprocharse.
  • Perder interés en las actividades que le gustaban o que anteriormente disfrutaba.
  • Tener pensamientos negativos persistentes acerca de personas, el mundo o uno mismo.

Los traumas afectan a cada persona de manera diferente. No todas las personas que experimentan un trauma son diagnosticadas con el síndrome de estrés postraumático.

Si experimentas un evento traumático, podrías tener todos, algunos o ninguno de los síntomas de estrés postraumático.

Circuito de Sobrevivencia

El circuito de sobrevivencia es cómo responden nuestro cuerpo y nuestrocerebro a las amenazas que nos rodean. Nuestro cerebro está diseñado pararesponder de esta manera con el fin de ayudarnos a sobrevivir a lasamenazas y el estrés.

Los cuatro pasos del circuito de sobrevivencia

  1. Algo que vemos, oímos, olemos, saboreamos o tocamosle dice a nuestro cerebro que podríamos estar frente aun peligro. La parte de nuestro cerebro encargada dealertarnos reacciona inmediatamente sin pensar.
  2. Nuestro cerebro le dice a nuestro cuerpo que se prepare para unposible peligro. El sistema nervioso simpático comienza a actuarinmediatamente sin pensar. Nuestras pupilas (el centro negro denuestros ojos) se dilatan, nuestro corazón comienza a latir conmayor rapidez y empezamos a sudar.
  3. La parte de nuestro cerebro encargada de alertarnos secalma. Las partes “pensantes” de nuestro cerebro comienzana entender lo que está pasando. Nuestro cerebro piensa en loque está pasando y lo compara con recuerdos de cosas quehan pasado anteriormente. Con esa información nueva,nuestro cerebro decide si estamos en peligro realmente o no.
  4. Si nuestro cerebro decide que no hay ningún peligro, leordena al cuerpo que se relaje. Entra en acción el sistemanervioso parasimpático. Nuestra pupilas se contraen (sevuelven pequeñas) y nuestro corazón late más despacio. Esonos ayuda a relajarnos y hace que nos resulte más fácil tomardecisiones y regresar a nuestras rutinas.

What is a mental health crisis?A woman hands another woman a tissue

A mental health crisis means that a person’s feelings or problems are so strong that they cannot do what they need to do that day.
A mental health crisis may also mean that the person is at risk of hurting themselves or others.

Signs of a mental health crisis:

These are some common signs that the person you support may be having a mental health crisis:

    • Not able to do daily activities like bathing, brushing teeth, or changing clothes.
    • Changes in mood, increased energy level, or restless
    • Suddenly sad, withdrawn, not wanting to be around other people.
    • Angry, verbal threats, violent, destroying property.
    • Using drugs or other substances, self-harm like cutting, abusive behavior.
    • Not able to recognize family or friends, confused, strange ideas, thinks they are someone they are not, hearing voices, seeing things that are not there.

how long does a mental health crisis last?

Sometimes a crisis will only last a few minutes.
Sometimes a crisis can last for days or months.
It depends on how quickly the person is able to get help and the type of coping skills they have.
If a person is able to widen their resilient or “OK” zone they may be able to recover from a mental health crisis more quickly.
&nbsp

What Should I do If I’m Having a Mental Health Crisis:

    • The most important thing to do in a crisis is to TELL SOMEONE.
    • If you tell someone else that you are in crisis, they can help you to work on a plan to feel better.
    • Start by talking to a person you trust like a parent, friend, support staff, or doctor. Be honest with them and tell them about thoughts you have been having.
    • If you need more help, you can talk to a professional by calling or texting the National Suicide Helpline at 9-8-8.
    • If you need immediate help to stay safe you should CALL 9-1-1.

How Can I Prevent a Mental Health Crisis?

It is helpful to plan how to handle a crisis before it happens.
Cartoon of a check list with boxes checked.
Having a plan can help you to get through a mental health crisis more easily or even prevent a crisis from happening.

Your plan should include:

    • A list of triggers that may cause a mental health crisis.
    • Strategies to help you feel calm again.
    • Phone numbers for trusted adults and emergency providers.

A mental health professional can help you create a mental health crisis plan. They can also help you to learn and practice skills for managing your emotions.

 

What Is a Resilience Plan?

    • A resilience plan is sometimes called a self-care plan.
    • It is a way to help you widen your resilient or “OK” zone and have a plan for how to use the skills.
    • The resilience or self-care plan should have information about what it looks and feels like when you are being pushed toward the edges of your resilient or “OK” zone.
    • The resilience or self-care plan should have information about the resilience skills that are most helpful to you. This may include things like specific resources or gestures.
    • A resilience or self-care plan can also have information like what to do in a crisis situation.

 

Resiliency Plan Template

1. It is important to use the Tracking Skill to find out where I am in the resilient zone. I should practice focusing on each of my senses:

  • Things I can see.
  • Things I can hear.
  • Things I can touch/feel.
  • Things I can smell.
  • Things I can taste.

2. When I am in the “high zone,” I feel…(choose all that apply)

  • Hot
  • Sweaty
  • Fast heart beat
  • Faster breathing
  • Hard to breathe
  • Tightness in my chest
  • Tight muscles
  • Like I need the bathroom
  • Dry mouth
  • Restless
  • Energetic
  • Dizzy
  • Like I want to throw up
  • Confused
  • Distracted

3. When I am in the “high zone,”

I can use one of my skills to be resilient. Some of the skills that might help me are the Help Now! skills and the Grounding Skill.

4. Some of the Help Now! skills that I prefer are: (choose all that apply)

  • Stretching
  • Going for a walk
  • Doing push-ups against a wall
  • Jumping up and down 10 times
  • Drinking water
  • Washing my hands with cold water
  • Looking for 6 colors around the room
  • Counting backwards from 20
  • Other: _________________________
  • Other: _________________________

5. When I practice the Grounding Skill,

I can focus on each of my senses just like I did when I was doing the Tracking Skill. When I use the Grounding Skill , I can stay focused on senses that feel comfortable or okay until I start to feel calm again.

6. When I am in the “low zone,” I feel…(choose all that apply)

  • Sad
  • Depressed
  • Tired
  • Ashamed
  • Distracted by problems
  • Low Energy
  • Hopeless
  • Embarrassed
  • Numb
  • Like I want to be left alone
  • Bored
  • Like I want to hurt myself
  • Hungrier than normal
  • Less hungry than normal
  • Don’t want to do anything

7. When I am in the “low zone,”

I can use one of my skills to be resilient. Some of the skills that might help me are the Resourcing and the Gesturing Skill.

8. When I use the Resourcing Skill, I can try using some of these resources…

People that help me feel calm/better: ________________________________
Places that help me feel calm/better: _________________________________
Things that help me feel calm/better: ________________________________
Memories that help me feel calm/better: ______________________________

9. When I use the Gesturing Skill, I can try using the following gestures:

  • Clapping
  • Jumping up and down
  • Sitting with my eyes closed
  • Other: _______________
  • Other: _______________
  • Other: _______________

10. If I need extra help getting back into my resilient zone,

I practice the Shift and Stay skill. I can use my other skills to shift my thoughts onto an okay or comfortable thought. Then I can try to stay with the thought by focusing on some extra details.

 

Cartoon of a graph representing how you can modulate your emotions to stay in your "OK" zone.

High Zone Reactions in my Brain: Social Story

This resource visually explains negative emotions that can happen and how to return to the "OK" Zone.

View Resource

High Zone Reactions in My Body: Social Story

This resource visually explains negative feelings in your body and how to return to the "OK" Zone.

View Resource

When I’m In The Low Zone: Social Story

This social story provides information about how to recognize when you are feeling down and recommendations about what you can do to feel better.

View Resource

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Other downloads

Name Description Type File
Tipos de traumas Los traumas y eventos traumáticos pueden producirse de muchas maneras diferentes . Abajo se presentan algunas definiciones y ejemplos de cómo pueden ocurrir los traumas . pdf Download file: Tipos de traumas
What is Trauma Trauma is an event that occurs and may affect people in different ways. This article discusses how trauma can happen and its impacts. pdf Download file: What is Trauma
¿ Cómo se manifies ta el trauma? Las personas sienten y afrontan los traumas de manera diferente. pdf Download file: ¿ Cómo se manifies ta el trauma?
Estrés Traumático Cuando alguien experimenta un trauma, puede provocarle estrés traumático. pdf Download file: Estrés Traumático
Circuito de Sobrevivencia El circuito de sobrevivencia es cómo responden nuestro cuerpo y nuestrocerebro a las amenazas que nos rodean. pdf Download file: Circuito de Sobrevivencia
PTSD and the Survival Circuit The survival circuit is how our bodies and brains respond to threats around us. Trauma can change how the survival circuit works in our brain. pdf Download file: PTSD and the Survival Circuit
The Four "F"s There are different ways your body can react when your brain thinks there is a threat. These are sometimes called the "Four F's." Download file: The Four "F"s
Introduction to Resilience Self Advocates Resilience can be explained in many different ways. It can also mean different things. Everyone has resilience! Download file: Introduction to Resilience Self Advocates
Introduction to Resilience. Resilience can be explained in many different ways. It can also mean different things. Everyone has resilience! Download file: Introduction to Resilience.
Why Resilience is Important. Resilience allows individuals to be flexible when something happens. They can think about what happened to them and learn to how to change, respond, and heal. Download file: Why Resilience is Important.
Resilient Zone The Resilient Zone is when we are in a place to be able manage our feelings and thoughts. The Resilient Zone can also be called the "OK" Zone pdf Download file: Resilient Zone
Emotions inside and out the Resilient Zone. The Resilient Zone is also known as our “OK Zone.” This zone is where we feel “OK” and can manage our thoughts and feelings. It is a state of well-being. Download file: Emotions inside and out the Resilient Zone.
Trauma Informed and Resilience Informed. People who are trauma-informed understand that trauma can affect individuals in many different ways. Download file: Trauma Informed and Resilience Informed.
Introduction to Resilience Skills Staying in your Resilient Zone or “OK” Zone helps you to keep working on your goals. But how do you know where you are in your Resilient or “OK” zone? pdf Download file: Introduction to Resilience Skills
What is Tracking? Tracking is a way to help you stay in or get back to your “Resilient Zone” or “OK Zone.” When you use tracking you pay attention to what is happening with your mind and body Download file: What is Tracking?
Why is Tracking Important When you track how your body and mind feel, you can pay attention to when those feelings are bad. Download file: Why is Tracking Important
Learning How to Track It may be hard to pay attention to what is going on with your mind and body. Talking to people you trust about these “feelings” is important. They may be able to help you learn to pay attention to good and bad feelings. Download file: Learning How to Track
Tracking Practice Tracking is when you notice what is happening inside your mind and body. It is one of the skills that can help you get back to your Resilient Zone or “OK" Zone. Download file: Tracking Practice
What is Resourcing Resourcing is a resilience skill that uses people, places, things, and ideas to help you feel better. Download file: What is Resourcing
Resourcing Practice Resourcing is the name of a skill that includes resources. Resources can be anything that helps a person to feel better. They can be a person, place, thing, idea or, anything else that helps them feel better. Download file: Resourcing Practice
What is Grounding? Grounding is a way of focusing on things that are happening right now. One of the simplest ways to do this is to pay attention to the sensations in your body. Download file: What is Grounding?
Grounding Practice Sheet Grounding is a way of focusing on things that are happening right now. One of the simplest ways to do this is to pay attention to the sensations in your body. Download file: Grounding Practice Sheet
What is Gesturing Gestures can be movements to show what we are thinking or feeling. Gestures can show when we feel angry, happy, sad, and other feelings. Download file: What is Gesturing
Gesturing Practice It is helpful to practice gesturing so that when you are faced with challenges you can easily use them to help you stay in your resilient or “OK” zone. Download file: Gesturing Practice
What is Shift and Stay? Shift and Stay is a skill you can use to change your thoughts and get back into your resilient zone. Download file: What is Shift and Stay?
Practice Shift and Stay SHIFT your bad thoughts to good ones. Use the other skills to find something that makes you feel happy, calm, or relaxed. STAY focused on these good thoughts. Download file: Practice Shift and Stay
What is Help Now? Help Now is a skill you can use when you feel overwhelmed. When you are faced with a lot of challenges, it can be hard to stay in your resilient or “OK” zone. Download file: What is Help Now?
Help Now Practice. This skill is made up of many different strategies. The skills in Help Now! focus on your body instead of your thoughts. Download file: Help Now Practice.
Resilience Skills Overview This resource provides an overview of what Resilience Skills are and provides some examples. Download file: Resilience Skills Overview
Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis A mental health crisis means that a person’s feelings or problems are so strong that they cannot do what they need to do that day. pdf Download file: Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis
Managing a Mental Health Crisis Having a plan can help you to get through a mental health crisis more easily or even prevent a crisis from happening. Download file: Managing a Mental Health Crisis
Building a Resilience Self-care Plan A resilience plan is sometimes called a self-care plan. It is a way to help you widen your resilient or “OK” zone and have a plan for how to use the skills. Download file: Building a Resilience Self-care Plan
Resilience Plan Template This template will help you develop a resiliency plan. Download file: Resilience Plan Template

This information was developed by the Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT). For more information, please contact ASERT at 877-231-4244 or info@PAautism.org. ASERT is funded by the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations, PA Department of Human Services.