Trauma and Resilience

Keith A. Young, LCPC, CCTP, CH, is a licensed counselor, certified clinical trauma professional, and certified hypnotherapist with a private practice in Bangor, ME, USA.

• Series ForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroductionGuide to Health LiteracyCommon Misconceptions about Trauma and ResilienceQuestions and Answers1. What is trauma?2. What are the different trauma conditions, and how are they diagnosed?3. How common is trauma in the United States?4. What types of events and experiences are the most likely to cause trauma?5. Are certain groups of people more likely to experience trauma than others?6. I've heard of people reacting to horrible things with a "fight, flight, or freeze" response. What is this, and what determines the response that we choose?7. I experienced something that most people would consider traumatic, but I don't feel traumatized. Is this normal?The Effects of Trauma8. What happens to the mental health of someone who becomes traumatized?9. How can trauma affect a person's memory?10. Can traumatic experiences contribute to medical conditions?11. How can trauma affect our relationships with others?12. What is it like to experience a flashback?13. Sometimes I feel like I become numb and go distant into my head. I feel no emotions at all. What's happening to me?14. What is borderline personality disorder, and how does it relate to trauma?15. What harmful coping mechanisms do people use to deal with trauma?16. Does trauma increase the likelihood that someone will abuse drugs or alcohol?17. Does having PTSD make someone dangerous or more likely to abuse others?18. Are traumatized people more likely to find themselves in dangerous situations later in life?19. Is it true that people who have been sexually abused end up more promiscuous?20. What effects does trauma have on society as a whole?Resilience21. What is resilience?22. What factors contribute to resilience?23. Can resilience be learned and improved upon?24. How will I know when I've developed a strong degree of resilience?25. What can teachers, health-care providers, and other professions do to help improve resilience in others?Treatment Options and Recovery26. How is recovery from trauma achieved?27. What are some of the biggest obstacles that people face in their efforts toward recovery?28. Does "getting well" from trauma mean learning how to avoid things that remind me of what happened?29. What common elements exist among trauma treatments?30. What is EMDR?31. What is trauma-focused CBT?32. What is in vivo desensitization?33. What is prolonged exposure therapy?34. What is internal family systems therapy?35. Can hypnosis be used for trauma treatment?36. What is neurofeedback?37. What are somatic experiencing and sensorimotor therapies?38. What medications are prescribed in the treatment of trauma?39. How can massage, yoga, acupuncture, and acupressure help trauma survivors?40. How can support groups and community groups help in the treatment of trauma?41. What part does family and social support play in recovery?42. What can I do to help a friend or family member suffering from trauma, and who can I contact for help?43. What kinds of treatments help with borderline personality disorder?44. Which treatments are recommended for veterans?45. Is it possible to be fully recovered from trauma?46. What is life like after trauma?Case StudiesGlossaryDirectory of ResourcesBibliographyIndex