Trauma

In psychological terms, trauma refers to the emotional and psychological response to an event — or series of events — that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Trauma is not defined by the event itself but by its impact on the individual. The same event can be traumatic for one person and not for another, and neither response is wrong. For cardiac arrest, trauma can affect not only the survivor but equally the co-survivor — the partner, family member, or friend who witnessed the arrest, performed CPR, or believed their loved one was dying. Psychological trauma does not require physical injury. Recognising that an experience was traumatic is often the first step towards getting appropriate support.