Dr. Mike Dadson (Michael Dadson) Answers Important Questions About Trauma
What is Traumatic Stress?
A traumatic incident frequently causes the mind and body to be overwhelmed with feelings of powerlessness and terror. Traumatic stress has the same effect.
Dr. Michael Dadson reports:
PTSD assessment considers exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence. Exposure can be direct, witnessed in person, learned about in a close family member or friend, or involve repeated occupational exposure to distressing details. The circumstances matter; hearing about an upsetting event is not automatically qualifying exposure. Read the National Center for PTSD’s explanation of diagnostic criteria.
PTSD Criteria:
The Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioural Health Services identifies the criteria for PTSD within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5. *Note: The DSM 5 is the authoritative guide used by mental health professionals in North America and around the world.
“Traumatic stress refers to the psychological and emotional strain that can result from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event”, relates Michael Dadson. “Trauma can have a significant impact on a person’s mental health and can lead to a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms” Dr. Michael Dadson emphasizes.
Dr. Michael Dadson explains:
- When trauma defences are activated there’s a natural reaction, a disequilibrium that happens in a sense. The defences are trying to deal with overwhelming circumstances in a situation that overwhelms the nervous system. Traumatic stress overwhelms the person’s ability to cope with the weight of all of the experience, which means that the body starts to respond in predictable different ways, and the mind responds in predictable ways.
- Everyday stress, trauma-related distress and PTSD are different. PTSD assessment considers a qualifying exposure and the full symptom pattern, duration and effect on life. Fear, horror or helplessness are not required reactions for a PTSD diagnosis. Distressing experiences that do not meet PTSD criteria can still deserve care. Our therapists consider what you have experienced without assuming a diagnosis.
It is critically important to understand that traumatic or adverse childhood events (ACE’s), play a major role in an adult’s ability to deal with a new trauma, including how triggers from childhood can adversely affect their everyday life in adulthood.
For more information on trauma and PTSD view the PTSD in Veterans and First Responders Section.
