Trauma | Vital Voyage Blog

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SAMHSA describes individual trauma as an event or circumstance resulting in physical harm, emotional harm, and/or life-threatening harm.

Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

Trauma

Vital Voyage Articles on Trauma

Recovery Month poster with pink and purple ribbons, raised hands with hearts, and colorful hearts on a dark blue background.

Recovery Month poster with pink and purple ribbons, raised hands with hearts, and colorful hearts on a dark blue background.

Trauma Beneath Addiction: To Really Understand-Look Deeper

Tim Lineaweaver

Sep 25

Green puzzle piece labeled TRAUMA among white and blue pieces, suggesting a mental health or recovery concept.

Green puzzle piece labeled TRAUMA among white and blue pieces, suggesting a mental health or recovery concept.

The Behavior Didn't Change, I Did: How Trauma Changes the Way We Understand Behavior

Tammy Adler Foeller

Sep 25

A young woman in a green sweater sits curled on a rug, reading a passport in a living room, looking pensive and sad.

A young woman in a green sweater sits curled on a rug, reading a passport in a living room, looking pensive and sad.

The Invisible Emergency: Mental Health Access in America and the Immigration Crisis Within a Crisis

Sep 18

Wooden figures stand on a bridge between two stone blocks, symbolizing connection and trust on a soft gray background.

Wooden figures stand on a bridge between two stone blocks, symbolizing connection and trust on a soft gray background.

How Do You Help Someone Trust Again After Trauma?

Tammy Adler Foeller

Sep 18

Wooden letter blocks spelling TRAUMA on a textured brown wood surface.

Wooden letter blocks spelling TRAUMA on a textured brown wood surface.

Trauma Changes More Than Memories

Tammy Adler Foeller

Sep 11

Red door under a spotlight in a dark room, casting a long shadow and red reflection on the floor.

Red door under a spotlight in a dark room, casting a long shadow and red reflection on the floor.

Why People Keep Returning to the Self-Defeating Behaviors They Hate

Andrew Tatarsky

Aug 22

Worried mother hugs her daughter as police officers stand around them in a tense room.

Worried mother hugs her daughter as police officers stand around them in a tense room.

The Biochemistry of Sustained Fear: What living under the threat of deportation does to the brain — and why it matters.

Aug 21

Glowing brain in transparent head beside pill bottles and scattered capsules, a futuristic medical concept in blue-orange light

Glowing brain in transparent head beside pill bottles and scattered capsules, a futuristic medical concept in blue-orange light

The Neuroscience of Habit Change: Why Willpower Fails in Substance Use Recovery and What Actually Works

Aug 6

Empty road at sunset with trees on both sides and ROAD TO RECOVERY painted on the asphalt under glowing orange clouds.

Empty road at sunset with trees on both sides and ROAD TO RECOVERY painted on the asphalt under glowing orange clouds.

The Future of Addiction Treatment: From Pathology to Health

Aug 1

A counselor comforts a man on a beige couch while holding notes; he clutches his chest, looking worried in a office setting.

A counselor comforts a man on a beige couch while holding notes; he clutches his chest, looking worried in a office setting.

When Caring Goes Too Far: Secondary Trauma and Healing for Helpers

Jul 10

Trust gauge meter with red needle near Low, labeled Normal and High on a white background.

Trust gauge meter with red needle near Low, labeled Normal and High on a white background.

Trust in Healthcare: Building Bridges in Behavioral Health

Melissa Fors Shackelford

Jun 26

A woman in a white sweater is holding her hands over her chest with her eyes closed. She has a serene look on her face.

A woman in a white sweater is holding her hands over her chest with her eyes closed. She has a serene look on her face.

Organismic Intelligence

Kristin Onderdonk

May 30

Wooden blocks spell "TRAUMA" against a white background, with additional scattered blocks showing random letters.

Wooden blocks spell "TRAUMA" against a white background, with additional scattered blocks showing random letters.

Best Practices for Trauma-Informed Care

Heather Proctor

Mar 6

Hand writing "I will not" and "I will" on a green chalkboard with white chalk.

Hand writing "I will not" and "I will" on a green chalkboard with white chalk.

Why We Need a More Compassionate Approach to Substance Use Treatment

Joshua Bennett-Johnson

Jan 30

Stacks of U.S. 100-dollar bills piled high, creating a massive mound.

Stacks of U.S. 100-dollar bills piled high, creating a massive mound.

We Need To Talk About The 40 Billion Dollar Reason Why Addiction Treatment Keeps Failing!

Jan 16

Hands gently cradle a green seedling sprouting from soil in a wooden pot.

Hands gently cradle a green seedling sprouting from soil in a wooden pot.

Living and Healing as a Neurodiverent Person in Substance Use Disorder Recovery: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and What Comes After

Jan 16

A small elephant sits in a corner wrapped in a blue blanket,

A small elephant sits in a corner wrapped in a blue blanket,

The Role of Trauma and Stress in Co-occurring Disorders

Jan 8

Network of diverse people connected by lines on a blue background, highlighting community connections.

Network of diverse people connected by lines on a blue background, highlighting community connections.

The Future of Addiction Recovery: Whole-Person, Community-Focused Care Explained

Dec 24, 2025

A person with their face obscured by a cloud, evoking a surreal atmosphere.

A person with their face obscured by a cloud, evoking a surreal atmosphere.

What Is Suicide Ideation?

Katherine Reynolds

Dec 17, 2025

Word cloud featuring "Trauma-Informed Care" prominently, surrounded by related terms like safety, empathy, healing, and mental health in varied colors.

Word cloud featuring "Trauma-Informed Care" prominently, surrounded by related terms like safety, empathy, healing, and mental health in varied colors.

Breaking the Cycle: How Trauma-Informed Care Can Revolutionize SUD Treatment

Katherine Reynolds

Dec 5, 2025

A baby playing with a rainbow toy.

A baby playing with a rainbow toy.

A Rainbow Baby With Adult Child Syndrome

Nov 8, 2025

Lonely man sitting on a park bench during a snowfall.

Lonely man sitting on a park bench during a snowfall.

When Sadness Descends: Dealing with Sadness in Recovery

Tim Lineaweaver

Nov 7, 2025

Woman trying to convince a patient to go to their facility.

Woman trying to convince a patient to go to their facility.

Rehab Centers Lure In Patients for Insurance Money —Then Leave Them on the Street

Oct 16, 2025

Girl and reporter at grief camp sharing stories.

Girl and reporter at grief camp sharing stories.

Orphans & the Hidden Cost of the Opioid Outbreak

Oct 3, 2025

man on the sidewalk holding a sign

man on the sidewalk holding a sign

The Unhoused Encounter - Part II Significant Barriers To Accessing Quality Treatment Services

Sep 27, 2025

Helpful Downloads and Information about Trauma

https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma

Coping With Traumatic Events

PTSD symptoms fit into four recognizable groups but affect each person differently.

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