In today’s fast-paced world, it is imperative that we take a step back and examine the kind of life we go through, individually or as a part of a community. On the global and local stage, we are currently witnessing extreme changes in the geopolitical landscape, unsettling changes in climate, and recovery from the recent global pandemic. This does not take into account the effect the events have on us. Natural disasters such as floods, landslides, haze, and disease outbreaks are frequent occurrences affecting the quality of lifestyle we lead.
All of these events could contribute to trauma. Though trauma is not a catch-all diagnosis, it can be hypothesised that global and local incidents have affected us in one way or another.
Findings from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) publications of the Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index 2023 revealed that one out of ten suffers from high stress, six out of ten suffer from mild to severe depression, and three of ten suffer from moderate to severe anxiety.
The 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) indicated that 4.6% of adults were diagnosed with depressive problems, the younger age group being most affected, while one out of six children between the ages of five and fifteen suffers from mental health issues.
This shows the severity of mental health issues among youth, be it from trauma or through the accumulation of stress in their lives.
What is trauma?
Not all mental health issues stem from trauma. However, all traumas can manifest into mental health problems. Trauma can be described as a response to deeply distressing or disturbing events that overwhelm an individual. According to Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib, MSU Medical Centre (MSUMC) consultant psychiatrist, trauma is subjective and deeply personal to the patients. Only two or three people will be affected by the same event that is experienced by a hundred people, and their response can differ greatly in terms of reaction, duration of symptoms exhibition, as well as severity of the symptoms. During a traumatising event, the response can be flight, fight, freeze, or fawn.
After the traumatic incident passed, trauma can manifest as normal reactions where initial distress is common, Adjustment Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some may react normally and be unaffected by events other than the initial incident, and some may be affected permanently by the trauma of the incident.
Trauma impacts lifestyle.
Trauma manifests in different ways. The response to trauma may be akin to the stress response, as stress is just a body reaction to a threat.
These responses can affect the body in three ways: physiological and cognitive, emotional and behavioural, and impact on overall lifestyle.
Trauma response can oscillate between the extremes. The common reaction can be between depersonalisation and derealisation, wherein the person affected will be numb to a point where they are unable to feel joy, or hyper-arousal, wherein the person affected is in a constant state of irritability, paranoia, and anger that results in lashing out at everyone or violence.
Physically, it will cause gastrointestinal problems such as persistent stomach aches, eating too little or too much, anxiety and insomnia, or other sleep hygiene-related symptoms. This response can shape interpersonal life by either isolating or detaching themselves or causing irreparable damage from unregulated emotions.
Healing Begins with You
Though nobody has control over the cause of their lasting trauma, we are responsible for the consequences of our actions. Holding yourself accountable for your trauma response as well as managing it is your responsibility. To ensure a healthy dynamic in your interpersonal relationship, take the time to find what works for you in your stress and trauma management. Being self-aware allows you to acknowledge the part of your trauma that affects you the most and helps you find a foothold to move forward in your healing process.
During the recently held Persidangan Kaunselor Pendidikan Peringkat Kebangsaan organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib delivered insights about trauma management in a talk on Cognitive Approaches to Trauma and Crisis Prevention. He interjected the need for preventative measures and trauma management at an individual level.
1. Self-care
Practising self-care is an important step to recognise your body's need to maintain better overall well-being. Just as trauma looks different to different people, self-care also varies from person to person. To some, it is taking the time alone to regulate emotion and create space for themselves, and to others, it is by involving themselves in community work to build connections. It is vital to maintain some semblance of self-care, especially when you are overwhelmed. Even if your self-care looks different, remember to give your body what it needs, such as nutrients and rest.
Stress response affects one’s sleep foremost, be it through nightmares or insomnia. Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib highlighted sleep hygiene as one of the primary self-care methods. He emphasised the concept of making the act of sleep sacred to make sleeping easier; it is vital for your bed to be used only for sleeping and leave it when you cannot sleep.
2. Support System
Establishing a robust support system can help you feel less alienated. In the context of trauma coping, it helps to acknowledge the trouble processing the traumatic events with the person who feels the same.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib stated that trauma will affect your perception of the world and the people around you. This skewed view will encourage you to isolate or alienate yourself from your community.
Actively reaching out to your support system will challenge this perception. Having a support system that meets your concerns with compassion and understanding will bring you a step closer to healing from your trauma, as it takes a big leap of faith to trust someone with your vulnerability.
3. Seek Professional Help
Seek professional help when you need it; even prolonged stress can be debilitating. Professional therapy helps you process trauma in a safe space. It tackles the root of the problem and manages it by giving you the relevant tools, such as meditation or mindful relaxation. In some cases, medication can be used as a last resort to keep the more severe reaction under control. For a less severe case, you can connect to a counsellor from a mental health organisation.
MSU provides its students with tools to cope with the hectic lifestyle. The Students and Career Development (SCD) provides students with counselling help that can be accessed through the student portal of MSU, EKLAS, or at the SCD office, Level 4 at Management Tower. The counselling provided by SCD is available for individual and group counselling.
Trauma can be irrational, but with a little help, you can conquer it and break the cycle of pain that makes for a better, kinder world for all.
In today’s fast-paced world, it is imperative that we take a step back and examine the kind of life we go through, individually or as a part of a community. On the global and local stage, we are currently witnessing extreme changes in the geopolitical landscape, unsettling changes in climate, and recovery from the recent global pandemic. This does not take into account the effect the events have on us. Natural disasters such as floods, landslides, haze, and disease outbreaks are frequent occurrences affecting the quality of lifestyle we lead.
All of these events could contribute to trauma. Though trauma is not a catch-all diagnosis, it can be hypothesised that global and local incidents have affected us in one way or another.
Findings from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) publications of the Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index 2023 revealed that one out of ten suffers from high stress, six out of ten suffer from mild to severe depression, and three of ten suffer from moderate to severe anxiety.
The 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) indicated that 4.6% of adults were diagnosed with depressive problems, the younger age group being most affected, while one out of six children between the ages of five and fifteen suffers from mental health issues.
This shows the severity of mental health issues among youth, be it from trauma or through the accumulation of stress in their lives.
What is trauma?
Not all mental health issues stem from trauma. However, all traumas can manifest into mental health problems. Trauma can be described as a response to deeply distressing or disturbing events that overwhelm an individual. According to Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib, MSU Medical Centre (MSUMC) consultant psychiatrist, trauma is subjective and deeply personal to the patients. Only two or three people will be affected by the same event that is experienced by a hundred people, and their response can differ greatly in terms of reaction, duration of symptoms exhibition, as well as severity of the symptoms. During a traumatising event, the response can be flight, fight, freeze, or fawn.
After the traumatic incident passed, trauma can manifest as normal reactions where initial distress is common, Adjustment Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some may react normally and be unaffected by events other than the initial incident, and some may be affected permanently by the trauma of the incident.
Trauma impacts lifestyle.
Trauma manifests in different ways. The response to trauma may be akin to the stress response, as stress is just a body reaction to a threat.
These responses can affect the body in three ways: physiological and cognitive, emotional and behavioural, and impact on overall lifestyle.
Trauma response can oscillate between the extremes. The common reaction can be between depersonalisation and derealisation, wherein the person affected will be numb to a point where they are unable to feel joy, or hyper-arousal, wherein the person affected is in a constant state of irritability, paranoia, and anger that results in lashing out at everyone or violence.
Physically, it will cause gastrointestinal problems such as persistent stomach aches, eating too little or too much, anxiety and insomnia, or other sleep hygiene-related symptoms. This response can shape interpersonal life by either isolating or detaching themselves or causing irreparable damage from unregulated emotions.
Healing Begins with You
Though nobody has control over the cause of their lasting trauma, we are responsible for the consequences of our actions. Holding yourself accountable for your trauma response as well as managing it is your responsibility. To ensure a healthy dynamic in your interpersonal relationship, take the time to find what works for you in your stress and trauma management. Being self-aware allows you to acknowledge the part of your trauma that affects you the most and helps you find a foothold to move forward in your healing process.
During the recently held Persidangan Kaunselor Pendidikan Peringkat Kebangsaan organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib delivered insights about trauma management in a talk on Cognitive Approaches to Trauma and Crisis Prevention. He interjected the need for preventative measures and trauma management at an individual level.
1. Self-care
Practising self-care is an important step to recognise your body's need to maintain better overall well-being. Just as trauma looks different to different people, self-care also varies from person to person. To some, it is taking the time alone to regulate emotion and create space for themselves, and to others, it is by involving themselves in community work to build connections. It is vital to maintain some semblance of self-care, especially when you are overwhelmed. Even if your self-care looks different, remember to give your body what it needs, such as nutrients and rest.
Stress response affects one’s sleep foremost, be it through nightmares or insomnia. Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib highlighted sleep hygiene as one of the primary self-care methods. He emphasised the concept of making the act of sleep sacred to make sleeping easier; it is vital for your bed to be used only for sleeping and leave it when you cannot sleep.
2. Support System
Establishing a robust support system can help you feel less alienated. In the context of trauma coping, it helps to acknowledge the trouble processing the traumatic events with the person who feels the same.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Najib stated that trauma will affect your perception of the world and the people around you. This skewed view will encourage you to isolate or alienate yourself from your community.
Actively reaching out to your support system will challenge this perception. Having a support system that meets your concerns with compassion and understanding will bring you a step closer to healing from your trauma, as it takes a big leap of faith to trust someone with your vulnerability.
3. Seek Professional Help
Seek professional help when you need it; even prolonged stress can be debilitating. Professional therapy helps you process trauma in a safe space. It tackles the root of the problem and manages it by giving you the relevant tools, such as meditation or mindful relaxation. In some cases, medication can be used as a last resort to keep the more severe reaction under control. For a less severe case, you can connect to a counsellor from a mental health organisation.
MSU provides its students with tools to cope with the hectic lifestyle. The Students and Career Development (SCD) provides students with counselling help that can be accessed through the student portal of MSU, EKLAS, or at the SCD office, Level 4 at Management Tower. The counselling provided by SCD is available for individual and group counselling.
Trauma can be irrational, but with a little help, you can conquer it and break the cycle of pain that makes for a better, kinder world for all.