What Is Traumatic Shock?

What Is Traumatic Shock?

Trauma is an emotional wound or rupture caused by an experience that threatens any dimension of wellness, says Crystal Burwell, PhD, LPC, Director of Outpatient Services, Newport Healthcare, Atlanta.

This article explores the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for traumatic shock, as well as some coping strategies that can help you regain your equilibrium.

Symptoms of Traumatic Shock

There are numerous physical and emotional signs and symptoms of traumatic shock as our bodies respond in a number of ways, says Dr. Burwell.

Physical Symptoms

These are some of the physical symptoms of traumatic shock, according to Dr. Burwell:

• A sudden decrease in blood flow
• Dilated pupils
• Irregular heartbeat
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Muscle tension
• Difficulty moving or functioning
• Unconsciousness

Emotional Symptoms

These are some of the emotional and cognitive symptoms of traumatic shock, according to Dr. Burwell:

• Cognitive fog
• Numbness
• Disconnection
• Denial
• Withdrawal
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Confusion
• Inability to concentrate
• Difficulty coping with emotions and memories

Causes of Traumatic Shock

While anything that significantly disrupts your emotional equilibrium can be considered a traumatic event, these are some examples of events that can cause traumatic shock:

• Abandonment
• Abuse
• Accident
• Argument
• Bankruptcy
• Breakup
• Bullying
• Crime
• Death
• Divorce
• Domestic abuse
• Financial crisis
• Illness
• Imprisonment
• Infidelity
• Injury 
• Job loss
• Life-threatening event 
• Natural disaster
• Racism
• Sexual abuse or assault
• Terrorism
• Violence
• War
• Witnessing a traumatic incident that happens to someone else

However, it’s important to note that everyone experiences trauma differently. Dr. Burwell explains the subjective nature of trauma below.

Trauma Is Subjective

Our experiences are unique to our perceptions of the world and our social location. For instance, one person may experience traumatic shock from bullying, while another person may experience traumatic shock from a car accident.

Diagnosing Traumatic Shock

If you or a loved one have experienced an emotional trauma and are struggling to cope with it, Dr. Burwell recommends seeking help from a healthcare professional.

The healthcare professional will assess your condition and symptoms, perform any tests or exams required, diagnose your condition and its severity, provide a referral to a specialist if needed, and chart out a treatment plan for you. 

Types of Traumatic Shock

Traumatic shock can be categorized into different types, depending on how it impacts the brain and which tissues and organs in the body are affected, says Dr. Burwell. “There are different types of emotional and physical trauma. Each type impacts particular regions of the brain and body, and manifests differently depending on the person.”

These are the different types of traumatic shock.

Dissociative Shock

Traumatic events can sometimes cause a person to go into shock and disconnect from either themselves or the people around them. People who experience dissociative shock may feel disconnected from reality, suffer memory loss, or develop dissociative disorders.

Medical Trauma

Certain physical injuries or illnesses can be traumatic for the body and cause the person to go into a state of shock. These are the different types of shock, medically speaking:

• Hypovolemic shock is marked by severe blood and fluid loss, which can make it difficult for the heart to pump blood and in turn, cause vital organs to stop functioning.
• Distributive shock is characterized by abnormalities in the blood vessels that distribute blood around the body, which can lead to low blood pressure.
• Cardiogenic shock, often caused by a heart attack, occurs when the heart isn't able to pump blood to the rest of the body. It is also known as cardiac shock.
• Neurogenic shock is caused by spinal cord injuries that can damage the nervous system and interfere with blood flow.

While these types of shock are medical conditions, Dr. Burwell explains that they can also affect us emotionally.

For instance, someone who has been shot at or been in a car accident may have severe blood loss and go into hypovolemic shock; however, they may also sustain severe emotional trauma. Similarly, someone who receives devastating news or experiences a trauma may have a heart attack and go into cardiac shock.

The physical and emotional are essentially bidirectional, says Dr. Burwell.

Emotional Trauma Treatment

If you have sustained an emotional trauma and are in shock, your body gradually begins to regain emotional equilibrium on its own and ground itself back in reality—this process can take longer for some than others, explains Dr. Burwell.

"When it comes to trauma, our brain doesn’t forget and our body always keeps score. Our emotions take center stage until homeostasis (equilibrium) is restored and we’re able to withstand the pain of processing the trauma," Dr. Burwell says.

These are some forms of therapy that can help treat emotional trauma, according to Dr. Burwell:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

Dr. Burwell recommends a holistic approach to treatment. "It’s important to have a collaborative approach to ensure the mind, body, and spirit are equally whole."

Coping With Traumatic Shock

Dr. Burwell also shares some coping strategies that can help you if you are dealing with a traumatic event that has shocked you:

• Seek social support. Reach out to loved ones you feel safe and comfortable with. 
• Practice self-care. Self-compassion is essential to healing from trauma.
• Give yourself the space you need to process your emotions. Trauma stays with you, and it’s necessary to unpack the trauma to fully heal.
• Seek help and treatment if you need it. The sooner trauma is addressed and treated, the better quality of life you’ll experience. It’s important to recognize the impact of the experience and give yourself permission to ask for help.
• Take the time you need. There’s no expiration date for healing. Trauma recovery is individualized and unique to each person. 

A Word From Verywell

A traumatic event can send you into a state of shock, particularly if it takes you by surprise and you are unable to process it. Traumatic shock is a defense mechanism that helps protect your brain and body. 

Traumatic shock can be accompanied by a range of physical and emotional symptoms, such as numbness, confusion, disassociation, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. It usually lasts a few seconds, but can feel a lot longer.

If you are struggling to deal with the trauma, you can seek help from a licensed healthcare professional, who can help you process it and equip you with the skills you need to cope.