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Discussion Forum 14
In Discussion Forum 14, post your response to the following discussion question.
A current course in Stress would not be complete without making a distinction between stress and trauma and the impact of the threat of terrorism in our society. Discuss how an event becomes traumatic rather than stressful. What are the primary differences between stress and trauma?
Discuss whether you believe that a large, though remote, event, such as 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina affects your stress level more or less than a smaller, but more personal event such as a car accident or assault.
During this week, implement your Stress Management Plan as devised in Assignment #4. Keep a journal of your experiences over the week, how successfully you were able to practice your plan and keep to the schedule. Be prepared to discuss this week in Week 12.
Please respond to each of the above discussions separately, do not combine the questions into one response. Label the discussion threads for each question as ‘Last name, Question #”.
| Subject | Psychology | Pages | 3 | Style | APA |
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Answer
Stress and Trauma
Question 1
The human body is designed to react in different ways to events within its environment. This is an internal defensive mechanism that helps one react, analyze and attend to potentially harmful situations and take a measure that could save one’s life. This study analyses the primary difference between stress and trauma as well as the how events turn traumatic rather than stressful. Stress and trauma though related are different and come as a result of reacting differently to mostly life changing events of different magnitude. The impact an event has in an individual’s life defines whether it is stressful or traumatic.
The primary difference between a stressful event and one that is traumatic is the extent or the intensity of the event (Kennard, 2014). He further explains that for traumatic events, one may take quite some time to settle and overcome the event as compared to stress. Trauma if not well managed may lead to more complications such as depression and sexual dysfunction.
Stressful events on the other hand can grow over a period of time to be traumatic; this however is not the sole or main reason for trauma. An event can turn traumatic as a because of relentless stress. Events such a terrorist attack may leave one with more than a physical wound, it may affect one emotionally driving fear and wild emotions that turn traumatic (DeVries, 1996).
Question 2
Even though an event of massive magnitude such as the terrorist attack of 9/11 may cause fear, panic and stress, it cannot be compared with a personal experience, such as a road accident. This is because, the major event may have affected one indirectly through business losses or death of a friend or relative but, in the event of a personal accident, the effect is felt both emotionally and physically (Resick, 2001). One may lose his life or be maimed permanently affecting his way of life leading to stress and eventually trauma.
References
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DeVries, M. W. (1996). Trauma in cultural perspective. Kennard, J. (2014). Overcoming Worry and Anxiety. SPCK. Kent, M., Davis, M. C., & Reich, J. W. (2013). The resilience handbook: Approaches to stress and trauma. Routledge. Resick, P. A. (2001). Stress and trauma. Psychology Press.
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