Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025

Stephanie Noblit, Esq, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Director

Stephanie NoblitAs we discuss ways to increase inclusion and belonging within ASCLS and make our meetings welcoming spaces for all members, we must make sure that we are being trauma-informed. Being trauma-informed means understanding and considering the pervasive nature of trauma and fostering an environment that supports healing and recovery rather than re-traumatization. According to the University of Buffalo School of Social Work, “[o]rganizations that use a trauma-informed approach fully integrate awareness of individual, historical, racial, and systemic trauma into all aspects of functioning to provide environments for everyone in the organization that intentionally reduce the likelihood of further harm and allow opportunity for healing and growth.”1 There are various forms of trauma, but this article will focus on how to be trauma-informed toward individuals with a history of individual trauma.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration describes individual trauma as an event or circumstance that results in physical and/or emotional harm and has a lasting adverse effect on the individual’s mental, physical, and emotional health and social well-being.2 Many people who experience a traumatic event are able to go on with their lives without lasting negative effects, however, some individuals will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the traumatic experience. We often think about PTSD in relation to veterans, but any person, regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, can develop PTSD. Traumatic events that can lead to PTSD, include, but are not limited to:

  • exposure to combat/war;
  • physical/emotional/sexual abuse;
  • rape and sexual assault;
  • experiencing a natural disaster;
  • witnessing or experiencing a serious accident;
  • witnessing or experiencing a violent crime;
  • receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis; and
  • witnessing or experiencing a terrorist attack.

Individuals who develop PTSD tend to develop four types of symptoms: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. These symptoms can cause major problems in work or social situations and affect how well the individual is able to interact with others. The symptoms of PTSD ebb and flow and can be “triggered” by certain stimuli.

“Many people who experience a traumatic event are able to go on with their lives without lasting negative effects, however, some individuals will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the traumatic experience.”

When an individual with PTSD is triggered, they will experience an involuntary physical and emotional reaction that places them in fight, flight, or freeze mode.3 This response is the result of the brain believing that it is in an unsafe situation. A trigger can come in the form of a sight, sound, smell, or thought. To those without PTSD, some triggers may seem obvious, such as hearing a news report about a violent crime, while others will be more subtle. These less obvious triggers, which outsiders might even find oddly specific, tend to be tied to the individual’s specific trauma experience.

The good news is that PTSD is treatable through therapy and/or medication. Over time, with treatment, an individual will learn to identify triggers and develop coping strategies. We can assist those with PTSD in their treatment and recovery by being trauma-informed. Because anything can be a trigger to a person with PTSD, it is impossible to avoid all triggers. However, there are actions people can take to lessen the chance of involuntarily triggering someone and to help those with PTSD feel safe (or safer) in certain settings.

  • Do not touch anyone without their consent. This may seem like common sense, but many people struggle with this basic concept. Consent is required for all forms of touch, not just intimate and sexual touch. Many individuals with PTSD are sensitive to touch. For example, touching someone on the back or arm in a friendly way may seem harmless, but this could be triggering. Always ask permission before touching someone, even a friend or loved one. Permission to touch someone once does not give you permission to touch them in the future. If you touch someone and they tell you to stop, stop touching them immediately.
  • If you do not have PTSD, do not use the term “triggered,” or any variation of the term, to describe feeling angry, frustrated, sad, mad, upset, annoyed, disrespected, hurt, etc. Having emotional responses is normal and healthy, but a person with PTSD who is triggered is not experiencing a normal and healthy emotional response. Misusing the term trigger minimizes the symptoms of those with PTSD and downplays their trauma.
  • Avoid certain communication pitfalls when talking to a person that has disclosed their PTSD. PTSD is a mental health condition that affects the way an individual’s brain functions. People with PTSD cannot just “get over” their trauma. If you know that a person has PTSD, the most important thing you can do for them is listen to and validate their feelings. Unless you are a mental health professional, do not offer them any unsolicited advice, such as, “You just need to relax,” or “Don’t think about it.” Do not minimize the person’s trauma or tell them that the situation could have been worse.

The best way to be trauma-informed is to educate yourself on trauma and PTSD. All of us in ASCLS have a role to play in reducing the likelihood of re-traumatization. Together we can create an inclusive environment that allows the possibility for resilience, healing, and personal growth.

References
  1. “What Is Trauma-Informed Care?” Buffalo School of Social Work – University at Buffalo, May 29, 2024. https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care/what-is-trauma-informed-care.html.
  2. “Trauma and Violence.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.samhsa.gov/trauma-violence.
  3. Mary Jo DiLonardo, “What Are PTSD Triggers?” WebMD, July 17, 2023. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-areptsd-triggers.

Stephanie Noblit is a legislative attorney working in drug policy and resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.