In recent years, we have been going through a period in which social traumas have been experienced Decently in our country and in the world. Natural disasters, fires, accidents, epidemics, economic crises and violent events deeply affect our mental health both on an individual and social level. Especially the repetition of such traumas can leave permanent emotional scars.

Social Trauma and Its Effects

Social trauma describes events that affect large segments of a group, society, or country, leading to intense emotional and psychological stress. However, repeated exposure of a society to the same type of events creates a marked change and continuity in emotional reactions. In societies subjected to repetitive traumas, a deep insecurity and anxiety about the future are also added to the negative traces of past events. This situation can cause not only individual, but also social attrition.

The Psychological Dynamics of Repetitive Social Trauma

While even a single traumatic event can have a profound impact on human psychology, the frequent repetition of the same type or different traumas tests the resilience capacity of individuals and society.

There are several basic dimensions of this condition:

1. Chronic Stress Instead of Acute Trauma

After a trauma, a person usually enters the healing process believing that the event is over. However, in case of recurrence of traumas, this process is interrupted and traumatic stress can become chronic. Such situations, on the other hand, gradually weaken the feeling of trust and create despair with the thought “worse could happen to you”.

This condition can bring with it the following symptoms:

• A state of constant alertness (hypervigilance)
• Sleep disorders
• Irritability and restlessness
• Anxiety disorders

2. Social Hopelessness and Helplessness

Repetitive traumas can strengthen the feeling of “it will happen to us again” in individuals and society. This feeling creates a feeling of insecurity, helplessness and loss of control, it can weaken the motivation and social solidarity of society.

3. Effects on Psychological Endurance

While some individuals and communities may develop a more resilient attitude after trauma, others may become Decrepit in the face of successive traumas.

Mental Disorders Seen After Repeated Traumas

Anxiety Disorders

Repeated traumas shake the general sense of life security of individuals and create a constant perception of threat. This condition can lead to anxiety disorders.

Depression

When the traumas are repeated, the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness deepens. People can get the feeling that ”I'm in a cycle that I can't change".

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

When traumatic experiences are repeated, reminders of events, nightmares, or the state of mentally reliving the event may occur more often.

Burnout and Freezing State

Individuals may experience a state of burnout or “emotional freeze” in the face of repetitive traumas. This can manifest itself in the form of inability to react to events anymore, suppression of emotions, or indifference.

Long-Term Effects on Society

Repetitive social traumas affect not only the mental health of individuals, but also the spiritual structure of society:

• Insecurity: People can lose confidence not only in the future, but also in each other.
• Social Segregation: During periods when social traumas are experienced frequently, people may often take an accusing attitude and direct anger outwards. An increase in intolerance can increase segregation in society.
• Decreased Sense of Solidarity: Fatigue caused by constant traumas can weaken the solidarity and empathy capacities of individuals.

Healing and Recovery: Social Solutions

In order to minimize the effects of repetitive traumas, it is necessary and essential that the process be handled with a planned and conscious approach.

1. Psychological Support and Awareness

Psychological support after repetitive traumas is a priority and important. Creating awareness about the effects of trauma throughout society and being able to talk about traumatic events can pave the way for support mechanisms in this process.

2. Resilience and Community Support

It is important that all segments of society act in solidarity. Charity campaigns, solidarity projects and volunteer work reduce the feeling of hopelessness of individuals and strengthen the feeling of “I am not alone”.

3. Creating Safe Spaces

Crisis management and transparent communication mechanisms should be strengthened after the disaster in order to restore a sense of trust in places where traumas are intense.

4. Trauma Processing and Social Healing

Social projects that encourage sharing, group support meetings speed up the healing process by coming together Decently.

Despite repeated traumas, humanity has a strong potential for healing. For this, it is important both to receive emotional support at the individual level and to develop the solidarity power of society.

With each recurrence of trauma, the most powerful way to alleviate the pain of increasing losses is through social solidarity and healing efforts. We can heal Decently by standing together as a society and supporting each other.

First of all, turning social solidarity into a culture, not a reflex, will be our strongest protection shield in the long run.