Potentially traumatic events are powerful and upsetting incidents that intrude into daily life. They are usually experiences which are life threatening or pose a significant threat to a person’s physical or psychological wellbeing.
Situations and events that can lead to psychological trauma include:
- acts of violence such as an armed robbery, war, or terrorism
- natural disasters such as bushfires, earthquakes, or floods
- interpersonal trauma such as rape, domestic violence, or child abuse
- traumatic loss of a loved one, including the suicide of a family member or friend
- experience of a life-threatening illness or injury
- involvement in a serious motor vehicle or workplace accident
- finding out that a close family member or close friend was involved in a traumatic event
An event may have little impact on one person but cause severe distress in another. Other stressful situations which appear less severe may still trigger traumatic reactions in some people. It is important to focus on how a person experiences an event and the impact it has on them.