Understanding Trauma: Do Men and Women Experience and Process It Differently?

Life can often make you feel like you're on a rollercoaster. Some days may feel like you're on top of the world, but other days may feel like you're at your lowest point.

At one point or another, you or someone you love will experience one of those low points in the form of a traumatic event. Trauma is an emotional response to a disturbing or distressing event or situation that can have a lasting impact on a person's overall mental well-being.

Traumatic events can happen to anyone, no matter a person's age, gender, social class, etc. While trauma can happen to anyone, does it affect people differently? Let's find out!

Types of Trauma

Men are more likely to be exposed to trauma. The trauma that women are more commonly exposed to also more often causes post-traumatic stress disorder. Women are more likely to experience traumatic events like sexual assault, sexual abuse, and rape. Men are more likely to experience traumatic events dealing with accidents, combat, disasters, injuries, physical assaults, or witnessing death.

Prevalence

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition relating to mental health that can appear following a traumatic experience. While this condition can happen to anyone, women are twice as likely to develop PTSD after experiencing trauma, despite men having a higher likelihood of experiencing trauma. The prevalence of PTSD in women also is affected by gender roles and culture.

The Signs and Symptoms

Men and women can experience a lot of the same signs and symptoms when exposed to trauma, but let's learn more about the differences that can be seen.

Women who've experienced trauma are more likely to show the following signs and symptoms:

  • Anxiety

  • Avoiding people, places, and things that remind them of the traumatic event

  • Depression

  • Easily started

  • Emotional numbness

Men who've experienced trauma are more likely to show the following signs and symptoms:

  • Anger

  • Difficulty focusing

  • Lack of concentration

  • Negative outlook on themselves and the world

  • Outbursts

How Women Experience Trauma

PTSD in women is more commonly found within communities that employ traditional gender roles. In these types of communities, men are known as the breadwinners while women are known as the homemakers. Men are strong, decisive, and able to suppress their emotions. Women are emotional, domesticated, and nurturing. Due to these standards and beliefs, women are more likely to be emotionally vulnerable, which can contribute to the signs and symptoms of PTSD and developing PTSD.

How Men Experience Trauma

These gender expectations can also impact the way a man deals with his emotions related to the traumatic event as well. Men will have a harder time sharing what happened to them, especially their thoughts, feelings, and emotions related to the traumatic event. Being emotional or wronged in any way doesn't fit the culture and gender roles of a man being strong and in control. Instead of feeling like they can talk to their loved ones about what happened, they'll suppress their emotions and even feel shame for a traumatic event happening to them.

How Men and Women Cope With Trauma

Men and women cope with trauma in different ways. A common response to trauma is the triggering of the "fight-or-flight" response. Women are more likely to adopt a "tend-and-befriend" response to trauma. They will go out of their way to make sure that their loved ones are cared for and reach out to support others to relieve their own internal stress.

Men will suppress their other emotions, but let their anger through. This way they can continue to show up and fulfil their role. Men are more likely to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms or reckless behaviors, like fighting, gambling, unsafe sex, speeding, or substance use.

Next Steps

No matter how you identify, processing those thoughts and feelings is a necessary step toward healing from a traumatic event. Reach out today to learn more about how trauma therapy can be a beneficial step for you.

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