Common Causes of High Stress and Trauma

• Mass violence: assaults, massacres, genocide, war
• Natural disasters: hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis
• Abuse and assault: physical, emotional or sexual
• Accidents
• Deliberate harm to others by criminals, terrorists, torturers, abusers
• Harm to others in the line of duty by law enforcers or military personnel
• Poverty and oppressive economic policies
• Homelessness or being a refugee
• Human-caused disasters such as chemical spills or collapsing structures
• Living in conditions of servitude, slavery or military occupation
• Neglect of those who cannot take care of themselves
• Serious illnesses or pandemics such as AIDS
• Social structures that deprive people of their ability to meet basic needs
• Sudden loss of loved ones, status, possessions or livelihood
• Witnessing a catastrophe, by aid providers, caregivers, journalists and others

The impact of a traumatic event depends upon its type. Trauma caused by the deliberate actions of other people, such as terrorism or rape, tend to be more devastating and harder to heal than trauma caused by an accident or natural disaster.

The impact of a traumatic event also depends upon its scope. Some traumatic events mainly affect individuals and families, such as a car accident that kills a mother. Some, like natural disasters, affect larger communities. Some, like terrorism and war, affect whole societies or nations.

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