Traumatic experiences are often part of the overall human experience.
Roughly 70 percent of U.S. adults have experienced some type of traumatic event in their lifetimes – that’s 223.4 million people. And while the majority of people do bounce back after suffering trauma, some do not.
Sadly, some people go on to experience psychological and emotional distress that puts them at risk for substance use and mental health disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. So why do some people fare better than others when it comes to trauma?
There are many factors that affect a person’s ability to heal from trauma, such as family history, social circumstances, age and gender. Also important is the person’s social support. Do they have a loving, supportive family? Or do they come from a history of abuse or neglect?
For those who do not recover from trauma, the next step is to access therapy and support from a licensed treatment center.