Understanding Trauma and Trauma-Related Disorders

When it comes to recognizing and addressing trauma and trauma-related disorders, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for example, is often associated exclusively with the horrors of war, but it’s a myth that only veterans of combat develop the condition. In reality, PTSD can impact anyone who has witnessed or experienced traumatic, life-threatening, or life-changing events.
Misconceptions also surround dissociative identity disorder (DID), once known as multiple personality disorder. While misleading media portrayals might suggest that most people with DID jump between personas and personalities, in reality, only a very small portion of those with the disorder exhibit this behavior.
So how can we learn to recognize the symptoms of psychological trauma? What are the best options for effective treatment? And how can we best understand if we have experienced a traumatic event?
Matthew A. Robinson, PhD, provides an overview of PTSD, DID, and other trauma-related disorders, debunks common myths about these conditions, and covers the evidence-based treatment methods to ensure that people are able to manage their symptoms and live rewarding lives.