What defines a traumatic incident?

A traumatic incident is characterized by an event that causes more stress than usual, significantly impacting an individual's emotional and psychological well-being. Such incidents are typically unexpected and can evoke feelings of helplessness, intense fear, or horror, leading to potential long-term effects on mental health.

While everyday stressors, joyful events, and normal life transitions may involve varying levels of stress, they do not typically rise to the level of trauma. Traumatic events often involve serious threats to safety or well-being, or they can be overwhelmingly distressing even if no physical harm occurs. Therefore, the definition hinges on the intensity and impact of the stress experienced, distinguishing traumatic incidents from more routine life events that may be challenging but do not reach that higher threshold of distress.