Trauma is derived from Greek descent. A situation is considered traumatic when a person experiences a serious injury or catastrophic event. After this, a person may experience shock. Trauma has a medical and psychiatric definition. The medical definition of trauma refers to shock, a critical bodily injury or wound. Blunt trauma is also considered a physical trauma.

The psychiatric definition refers to an experience that is emotionally distressful and shocking which causes physical and mental effects. Trauma can also be caused from an ongoing illness like cancer.

Some sources of psychological and emotional trauma are:

• Surgery
• Auto accidents
• Falls
• Knowledge of a disabling condition

Symptoms of emotional trauma are:

• Withdrawal
• Denial
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Guilt
• Anger
• Fear

Physical symptoms are:

• Fatigue
• muscle tension
• insomnia
• aches and pains

Other types of trauma are head injuries like traumatic brain injury; the most common type is a concussion.

These symptoms may last days to months. If these symptoms are still ongoing after a few months it will be important to seek professional help.