Mindfulness for trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

As a result of events such as the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the bombings in Madrid in 2004, and multiple armed conflicts throughout the world, the word trauma and the term posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have become a part of the popular lexicon. The word trauma comes from the Greek word for wound and in psychological terms it has come to refer to distressing experiences that overwhelm an individual's ability to function. Psychological trauma is associated with exposure to external events, which is considered painful and can impact internal psychological processes (Wilson, Friedman & Lindy, 2001). However, it is important to note that trauma does not occur in a vacuum or in an isolated context; other environmental factors impact the exposure to trauma and the subsequent responses or reactions. © 2009 Springer-Verlag New York.