According to the National Institutes of Health “Trauma” refers to experiences that cause intense physical and psychological stress reactions. “Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.
Trauma leaves invisible scars on a human body both physically and mentally. The effect of trauma doesn't hurt on the person involved in it but all the things or individuals or society at large
Trauma can occur due to many reasons. Trauma overwhelms an individual's ability to cope. The examples of how trauma happens include physical trauma like car accidents, violence abuse. Emotional trauma includes abuse ,bullying, betraying , and the death of someone. Psychological trauma of another kind includes wars, terrorism etc and there are many more traumas that include vastly cultural trauma or community violence.
How a person gets trauma and what mechanism is involved in it. For instance, if a person experiences a traumatic event the stress hormones of their body's revealed like cortisol or adrenaline. When a person gets involved in it it's not a sudden mechanism it evolves slowly. The choice within the person left is flight or fight. The traumatic event is processed through sensory inputs like sound, light, fragrance etc and then it is consolidated into memory creating lasting recollection.
Here is the case study done by me with one of my close friends. And this study has been observed for almost a year. As we know we indeed read a lot of psychology books but the saying goes only the wearer knows where shoe pinches. The one who suffers the one who really goes through this once recovered gives the utmost truth and experience faced by that survivor
This case study explores the traumatic experience of a woman, referred to as Noor (name changed )who suffered a devastating in 2022 loss of a close friend. I made this study and observed it by spending almost a year with that person. The study delves into the emotional, psychological, and physical consequences of this loss, highlighting the complexities of trauma and its far-reaching effects .Noor a bachelor in her early twenties, was deeply attached to her friend, who was more like a friend, sibling, cousin to her. The two shared a strong bond, and their friendship was built on trust, mutual respect, and a deep understanding of each other. Tragically, Noor’s' friend passed away, leaving her shattered and heartbroken. The loss of her friend sent Noor into a downward spiral of grief and trauma. Initially, she became withdrawn and isolated, struggling to cope with the overwhelming emotions that flooded her mind. First thing she experienced was the sudden absence of the habit she used to like. She used to start the day by talking with that person and her day ended with the same, once she lost the habit all of sudden what mechanism involved that's secondary thing but the primary thing is something was happening and even the worst. She lost interest in activities she once enjoyed, including her studies, and her academic performance began to suffer. She missed the classes , she didn't give attention to food and fuel but yes contrary this trauma made her very close to the Allah . According to her she used to pray for long hours and cry badly on prayer rugs. That was the only thing that kept her good but not permanently on me for that particular period.
As the days turned into weeks, Noor's emotional pain intensified, and she started to experience anxiety attacks, which became more frequent and severe over time. The smell of certain fragrances, which reminded her of her friend, would trigger these attacks, leaving her feeling helpless and vulnerable. She said in a year If she met any of the stranger having same qualities of that friend either any physical appearance of any habit she used to get attached and once she got attached d but within 3 days or a week she began to realise it's not that person. Basically she wanted to normalise her brain and mind by finding the same qualities or same habits that a person possessed but it was only illusion and mirage not the reality.
Noor’s trauma became so unbearable that she attempted to take her own life four times. Fortunately, she did not succeed, but these attempts underscore the severity of her emotional distress. Her feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame exacerbated her trauma, making it even more challenging for her to cope.
She said all this finally led her to go to a mental hospital. When she said I cried in front of the doctor and navigated her grief, she was given hardly a few minutes and high doses of medications were given . Although she was educated, she knew what would be the side effects but that was urgency she began to form short-term attachments to people who reminded her of her friend and side by side taking medications These attachments were intense but fleeting, leaving her feeling empty and unfulfilled. This pattern of behaviour was a manifestation of her unresolved grief and her deep-seated desire to reconnect with her friend.
Noors' trauma and grief led to social isolation, as she found it increasingly difficult to connect with others. Her relationships with family and friends began to fray, and she became withdrawn and isolated. Her physical health also began to deteriorate, as she neglected her diet, exercise, and overall well-being.
Noors case study highlights the devastating consequences of trauma and loss. Her experience demonstrates how grief can become stuck, leading to a range of emotional, psychological, and physical problems. The study underscores the importance of seeking professional help and support to navigate the complex and often debilitating effects of trauma. Noor who is herself a motivational speaker herself is a strong and healthy lady. How did she overcome that? There arose two things and two contradictions one who is educated and yearn to solve the problems finding a way to and solution on the other hand those like our elderly people or generation x or some very elderly of baby boomers and including many of the early Millennials face the problem and many of them remains untreated and unsolved whole of their lives.
In conclusion, do medications only help recover the trauma or Professional Help or any meditation. It varies in case to case and different individuals to cope up with the situations the age and education yes to seek professional help from a therapist or counsellor specializing in trauma and grief. Like they make the people calm and understand the realities in reality they taught them to fight not flight. And they let their brains understand that you have to accept the thing. What happened these reasons are to be differently dealt with but what the person is suffering is the matter of concern. As one person suffering from trauma indeed feels anxiety attacks or may go into depression. These people usually isolate themselves there should be Support Groups like Joining a support group can provide them with a sense of community and connection with others who have experienced similar losses. These people slowly slow down their Self-Care which in turn makes their immune system very weak and prone to various kinds of diseases: Encourage them to prioritize self-care, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and engaging in activities that promote relaxation and stress reduction.
Gradual Reintegration is another step Support them in gradually reintegrating into her social life, starting with small, manageable steps.
Trauma is not taboo! Having any kind of psychological disorder is not taboo. I have witnessed the examples where people think relationship breakouts are the sole reason for trauma in young people but There are several reasons. It might not be the only one cause . if we take examples from the Islamic history Hazrat Bilal Ibn Rabbah suffered severe torture like burning with hot coals and so on but still remained faithful . The things is every kind of person may feel any kind of trauma but the matter is to overcome that.
Trauma may lead to many bad relations with the parents and their children where they face trauma with studying. One of the good examples is Bollywood movie “Taare Zameen Par” where the child had dyslexia. Where he faced social pressure , pressure from parents, academic trauma and emotional trauma. This movie is a good example where all pressures are faced by a boy and how they all together helped him to come out of that.
Trauma is a also seen in the places where there is territory dispute like Palestine people may feel very distress.
Trauma, a deeply distressing experience, can leave an indelible mark on an individual's life. But yes its not the thing again repeating that is not curable its is curable . It's not something that can be simply "gotten over" or dismissed as fake its the worst reality. The reality is that trauma is a genuine, debilitating experience that demands compassion, understanding, and support. Social support, in particular, plays a vital role in helping individuals recover from trauma. Especially the family members A strong support network can provide a sense of safety, validation, and connection, which are essential for healing. When individuals feel supported, they're more likely to develop resilience, reframe their experiences, and rebuild their lives.
Meditation, a powerful tool for healing, can be a game-changer for individuals dealing with trauma. By cultivating mindfulness, meditation helps individuals develop a greater sense of self-awareness, allowing them to better navigate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. Regular meditation practice can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve sleep quality, and enhance emotional regulation. Moreover, meditation can help individuals rewire their brains, shifting from a state of hypervigilance to one of calm and relaxation. While it may seem daunting, meditation is accessible to anyone, regardless of their background or experience. With consistent practice, individuals can develop greater resilience, clarity, and peace, ultimately empowering them to reclaim their lives and move forward with hope and purpose. Nothing is impossible; healing is within reach. In the Holy Quran it is mentioned in surah Baqarah verse 286,” Allah doesn’t burden a soul except with that within the capacity. Indeed Human being will surely suffer but whenever a problem arises there is a solution as mentioned in Holy Quran itself in surah Qasas Verse 10, When Mother of Musa AS was ordered to put Musa(as) in river and have the faith In Allah SWT and gave her such strength to have trust. So praying and meditating in form of salah and namaz
Same If we see in Hinduism, the mental impression called samskara can influence the human behavior and emotion and as a meditation Yoga or puja can relive the sense of comfort. So it is a universal fact not specially related with one of the religions of one of the communities. The thing is: How to address concerns.
Trauma is unseen pain but visible by physical parts. Trauma has no tongue but cries in pain
Trauma is deaf but hears the hypersonic sounds of the soul. Trauma has that sense which is more sensitive than the 6th sense .
By acknowledging the unseen pain of trauma we can work towards creating more supportive and inclusive environment

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