You may have been involved or seen very upsetting or frightening things, such as:-

Accidents, earthquakes, bombs, disasters

Rape, assaults, serious violence

Seeing a serious accident

Seeing serious violence (between parents for instance)

Sexual or serious physical abuse

Everyone deals with trauma differently, some seem to cope, others get a lot of physical symptoms, and distressing thoughts, these can be:-

Flashbacks, remembering the trauma as if it is happening again

Upsetting feelings, panic, fear, heart racing, feeling sick

Avoiding situations that remind you of the trauma, travelling, going out, normal sexual experiences.

The severity of symptoms vary a lot, some people can live with, and get better with time, and on their own, some people, (with severe symptoms) need help, often from psychologists, psychiatrists, or trained counsellors

If something traumatic has happened to you, you may want to get help. If you have been in an accident, or seen one, this may be quite easy.

If you have witnessed, or been on the receiving end of some sort of violence (physical, or sexual, or abuse), then it may be more difficult. It may be a secret, or something you are ashamed of. Many people who have this sort of trauma don't get help because of this.

Help can include:-

Support, general advice

Medication, for depression, and severe flashbacks, and physical symptoms

Relaxation, hypnotherapy, for physical symptoms

Cognitive behavioural therapy, for the distressing thoughts

Long term therapy (psychotherapy) for childhood abuse, though this is not always needed

There are a lot of other therapies around, some may work, but you should be cautious of trying anything you don't feel comfortable with, some therapies may make symptoms worse.