Trauma and Stress Disorders

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to trauma and stress disorders.

Stress

An organism’s internal biological and psychological response to adjustive demands.

Stressor

An event that creates demands or is viewed as threatening.

Stress Response

An individual's reactions to stress.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary actions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy and restores the body to calm.

Eustress

Positive stress that can motivate and enhance performance.

Distress

Negative stress that can hinder performance and well-being.

Coping

Cognitive and behavioral attempts to exert control in stressful situations.

Homeostasis

A state of balance maintained by physiological processes.

Allostasis

The process of adaptation through change.

Acute Stress Disorder

Symptoms that begin within 4 weeks of a traumatic event and last for less than a month.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms that last for more than a month after a traumatic event.

Dissociation

Disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity.

Dissociative Amnesia

Inability to recall important life-related information, usually linked to trauma or stress.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to help individuals process trauma.

Mindfulness-Based Techniques

Therapeutic strategies focusing on the present moment to improve emotional regulation.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

A psychotherapy technique that helps process traumatic memories.

Multifinality

The concept that similar genetic predispositions can lead to different outcomes.

Equifinality

The concept that different predispositions can lead to the same outcome.

Psychological First Aid

An immediate aid provided to individuals who have experienced trauma.

Psychological Debriefing

A process to help individuals process the events following a traumatic experience.