Trauma & Stress

Emotion-focused coping is a way of dealing with stress by regulating and managing the negative emotions that arise from stressful situations.

Emotional shock refers to an intense, sudden state of psychological overwhelm triggered by an unexpected event. It can temporarily numb your feelings or cause a loss of sense of reality, but this is a completely natural response.

Trauma that can develop when your physical, emotional, or psychological boundaries are repeatedly ignored or crossed.

Distress signals are the various psychological, behavioral, and physical signs we unconsciously send out when we're struggling emotionally. Recognizing these signals is the first step toward caring for your own mental health and that of the people around you.

The process of getting your emotional energy back after being worn down by caring for others.

Hyper-independence is the tendency to handle everything alone without asking others for help. It's a protective response developed from past wounds that made depending on someone else feel unsafe or frightening.

Hypervigilance is a state of being constantly on high alert for danger, even when no real threat is present. It's like having an alarm system in the brain that never turns off.

The optimal range of arousal levels within which a person can function most effectively. Within this zone, a person can feel emotions while still being able to think clearly.

Structural violence is an invisible form of harm where social institutions and systems themselves cause ongoing suffering and damage to specific groups of people.

Grounding techniques are psychological methods that help you return to the present moment when anxiety, panic, or flashbacks arise. By engaging your five senses to focus on the 'here and now,' you can restore a sense of calm and stability.

A short-term stress response triggered by a specific event, involving rapid physiological changes such as increased heart rate and adrenaline release.

The combined impact of repeated distressing or harmful experiences over time.

Polyvictimization refers to experiencing multiple different types of violence or abuse, not just one kind. The more types of victimization overlap, the greater the psychological impact can be.

Vicarious trauma is a deep inner transformation — changes to one's worldview, beliefs, and sense of self — that results from cumulative exposure to others' traumatic experiences.

Interpersonal trauma is trauma that is intentionally inflicted by another person.

A way of dealing with stress, pain, or difficult emotions.

Moral distress is the deep psychological suffering that occurs when you know the right thing to do but are unable to do it due to external constraints. It arises from the conflict between your personal values and your actual actions.

Toxic stress is intense, prolonged stress exposure without a protective adult present, causing serious harm to the developing brain and body.

The freeze response is a survival reaction where your body and mind become immobilized when you sense a threat. It's not a failure to act — it's your brain automatically choosing a protective strategy.

Microtrauma refers to small, repeated emotional wounds that may not seem significant on their own, but accumulate over time to create a deep psychological impact. Even seemingly minor experiences can become a source of significant pain when they build up.

Stress that stays for a long time and slowly wears down the body and mind.

A brain disease linked to repeated head impacts that can later affect memory, mood, and behavior.

A mental practice that focuses and calms the mind, helping to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

When the body reacts to past experiences, even if the mind does not fully remember or understand why.

When past experiences seem to stay in the body as sensations or reactions.

Problem-focused coping is a way of dealing with stress by directly trying to solve the problem that is causing it.

Unprocessed trauma refers to a state where shocking or painful past experiences remain stored in the mind without being fully worked through psychologically. Even years later, certain situations can suddenly bring those same emotions rushing back.

Trauma experienced in childhood, especially during early developmental stages, that has wide-ranging effects on overall development.

The process of slowly getting your energy, focus, and sense of self back after burnout.

A trauma-related condition that can develop after repeated or long-term trauma, especially when escape or safety was limited.

Social support refers to the emotional, practical, and informational help and assistance we receive from the people around us.

The psychological burden felt during major life changes such as graduation, starting a job, marriage, or retirement. Even positive changes can become a source of stress.

Survival mode is a state where your body and mind focus solely on surviving during extreme stress or crisis situations.

Sexual trauma is the deep psychological pain and lasting emotional wounds caused by experiences of sexual violence or violation, which continue to affect daily life and wellbeing.

Sexual abuse involves forcing sexual acts or sexually exploiting someone without their consent. It is a serious form of violence that leaves deep wounds on both the body and the mind.

Transgenerational trauma is when the effects of trauma experienced by one generation are passed down to children and grandchildren. The psychological wounds of parents or grandparents can shape the lives of those who never directly experienced the original events.

Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where hostages or victims develop sympathy or positive feelings toward their captors or abusers. It is understood as a survival mechanism that emerges under extreme circumstances.

Stress management refers to the various strategies and techniques used to healthily cope with and reduce stress in everyday life.

Stress mindset refers to an individual's beliefs and attitudes about whether stress is harmful or an opportunity for growth. These beliefs can actually shape how stress affects you in real life.

A series of physical and psychological changes that occur in your body and mind when you feel threatened or under pressure.

Stress buffering refers to the protective role that social support and inner resources play in reducing the negative effects of stress on our mind and body.

Stress contagion is when another person's stress spreads to you, causing you to feel tense or anxious alongside them.

Stress hormones are chemicals released during stressful situations, with cortisol and adrenaline being the most well-known examples.

Stress resilience is the mental strength to bounce back quickly after experiencing stressful situations, and even grow stronger through them.

Grief stages describe the emotional changes people go through after losing someone they love or experiencing a major loss. There is no fixed order or timeline for grief — mourning at your own pace is completely natural.

Time management is a strategy for making efficient use of limited time to reduce stress and increase productivity.

A therapeutic approach that releases trauma stored in the body by working through physical sensations and movement. It recognizes that trauma leaves traces not just in the mind, but in the body itself.

Physical abuse is the intentional act of causing bodily harm through hitting, pushing, pinching, or similar actions. It leaves deep wounds not only on the body but also on the mind.

Somatization is when psychological distress expresses itself through physical symptoms in the body. It's a real experience, not something imagined.

A structured conversation process conducted shortly after experiencing a traumatic event to help people process their emotions and experiences. It is an early psychological support method aimed at preventing trauma.