The Difference Between Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Intro

So many people confuse trauma with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Obviously, the two terms are related, but they’re not the same.

Here’s one of the simplest descriptions…

“You need to have trauma to have PTSD. But you don’t need to have PTSD to have trauma.”

If you think about that sentence twice, it starts making sense.

But to gain more clarity on the confusion, let’s dive deeper into the two closely related but different topics.

Event vs. Illness

The first thing you need to know about trauma and PTSD is this…

Trauma is an event.

PTSD is an illness.

Yes, that’s right.

Trauma is a tragic event or multiple events. Everyone has gone through trauma to a certain degree.

But not all traumatic events turn into PTSD, which is a disease.

PTSD is a mental disorder like any other: depression, anxiety, etc.

Trauma happens once.

But PTSD is a lengthy problem.

PTSD has a whole host of terrific symptoms that the patient suffers from.

It involves nightmares, flashbacks, complications in most relationships, unable to thrive in a career, etc.

In other words, PTSD is a disease that limits the patient’s potential to unravel.

The Timeline Difference

Trauma is always experienced in the present.

PTSD as a disease is also experienced in the present.

However, the root of PTSD is always in the traumatic past.

For which, we can also say that a traumatic event or events can turn into PTSD.

In the next section, we will see how to avoid that.

Based on their duration, traumatic events can also be of two types.

First, acute trauma, which involves events like accidents, natural disasters, etc. events that are not likely to happen again.

Second, there is chronic trauma. Here, traumatic events repeat for a much longer period of time. For example childhood abuse, bullying, domestic abuse, etc.

In any case, it depends on the intensity of the trauma and the person whether or not it turns into PTSD.

How Trauma Turns Into PTSD

Here’s an important note…

Nobody intends to turn trauma into PTSD.

It is an unfortunate, unintentional, and sometimes unavoidable process.

It is safe to say that it is never the patient's mistake that they develop PTSD.

But at the same time, it is their responsibility to drag themselves out of it.

Now let’s look into how trauma turns into PTSD.

We already discussed that trauma is an event.

But what we didn’t discuss is the severity of the event.

A single idea that determines whether trauma will turn into PTSD is severity.

If trauma is too overwhelming for the individual, it will turn into PTSD.

It usually happens when a person comes across a certain tragic situation that is absolutely incomprehensible to them.

A situation they cannot make sense of.

This is how trauma haunts people for years.

This is how trauma holds people back from achieving their potential.

How to Avoid Trauma Turning Into PTSD

If you want to avoid trauma to turn into PTSD, stop running away from it.

Research shows that a considerable number of people develop PTSD because of avoidance.

It is better to accept the reality.

Face the terrible darkness.

Process the heap of negative emotions that come along with it.

Share it with trusted people.

Be vulnerable.

Cry.

And end up on the brighter side.

The more you avoid trauma, the more severe the PTSD gets.

It is so much better to go through temporary emotional turmoil instead of lifelong emotional disability.

Your first option choice is to seek professional help.

If for any reason you can’t, don’t avoid the negative feelings.

There are different ways you can stop your trauma from turning into a chronic disease.

For example, talking to someone you trust, processing emotions by journaling, being aware of your emotions and not repressing them, taking care of your mental and physical health, etc.

Conclusion

Trauma and PTSD are two different, but closely related ideas.

Trauma is an acute or chronic event.

PTSD is a severe mental disease that limits the patient’s potential.

Trauma can turn into PTSD because of avoidance.

This can be avoided with acceptance, vulnerability, and seeking help.