Major trauma psychology

The emotional impact of a traumatic event

A traumatic event affects everyone differently. We know that experiencing serious physical injuries, often in an unexpected and frightening event, can feel overwhelming at times. It is normal to notice feelings of shock, anger, worry and sadness, and that this can be distressing. Usually, in time, difficult thoughts and feelings begin to settle without the need for professional help.

We do know that these difficulties usually get better with time. If you are struggling with your emotions while you are in hospital, Major Trauma (MT) psychologists can meet with you to help you understand your emotional response to your injuries, and introduce strategies to help you feel more able to cope.

MT psychologists can also support adult family members if needed, as we know that these events can affect the people close to you. If younger people have been affected by what has happened, we can offer further resources and signposting to other services.

If you feel you are struggling with your emotions following a traumatic event, please ask a member of the MT team for more help or information.

Brain injury following a traumatic event

Some traumatic events can result in injury to a person’s brain. The effects of this vary widely, depending on the extent and location of the injury. In hospital, this may result in feeling confused and disorientated, difficulties remembering information, feeling more emotional, or acting differently to how you usually would. You may notice improvements in these difficulties as you continue to physically recover from your injuries. It might be that your family notice these changes more than you do.

While you are in hospital, MT psychologists can meet with you to help assess and explain the changes in thinking, emotions, and behaviour that you may have experienced. They can give you and your family advice on rehabilitation strategies to support your recovery.

Once you return home

We know that sometimes responses to a traumatic event may not happen until after you return home, or a bit further down the line.

MT psychologists are able to meet with you and/or your family members following your discharge from hospital, if you feel that you are having ongoing difficulties adjusting to and making sense of your experience.

This might be causing you a lot of distress day-to-day, perhaps impacting on your work or your personal life, or finding that you are feeling overwhelmed and going over the accident in your mind. You might also notice changes to your thinking, memory, emotions and behaviour if you have experienced a brain injury.

Our MT co-ordinators will call you a few weeks following your discharge from hospital to see how you are getting on. They will ask you how you are coping emotionally, and if you are having difficulties. If requested, MT Psychology will arrange an initial telephone appointment to discuss your difficulties in more detail and consider what options might be suitable.

We offer evidence-based psychological therapy for difficulties that arise as a direct result of the event you have experienced, and can consider whether further assessment of your cognition or strategies to help support your recovery might be helpful.

Contact MT Psychology directly or discuss further with your GP once you return home. Your GP is able to refer you to our service as required.

Further information

• Read more about coping after a traumatic injury.
• Headway provides lots of additional information and support for people and their families affected by brain injury. The Headway Highland group is based in Inverness, and provides support for individuals and their families.
• ASSIST Trauma Care - information and specialist help for people who have experienced trauma, or are supporting someone who has.
• Brake - information and support for people bereaved or seriously injured due to road traffic accidents.
• Mind to Mind - information and strategies for improving mental wellbeing, from NHS inform.
• Breathing Space
• Samaritans
• 111 at NHS 24