SHAH ALAM, Dec 15 — Society today is increasingly exposed to collective trauma, a condition in which an entire community experiences emotional distress despite not being physically present at the scene of an incident.
This phenomenon has become more pronounced following several incidents occurring within a short period, including the stabbing of a student, tragic disappearances, and horrific accidents that have shocked the nation.
The Public Service Psychology Officers Association's (PSIPA) president Dr Raja Kamariah Raja Mohd Khalid said social media makes distant tragedies feel as though they are happening right before our eyes.
“Even if the place is far away, it can feel close because the situation mirrors what exists in our own surroundings.
“The brain begins to process thoughts like ‘what if this happened to my child or me?’. This is where collective trauma begins,” she said during the 'Bicara Semasa' programme produced by Media Selangor recently.
Dr Kamariah emphasised that collective trauma not only affects victims and their families; the wider community can also be impacted without realising it.
“The MH17 and MH370 (aircraft) cases, for example, many people who were not involved felt afraid to fly. That is proof of how a community can experience trauma together,” she said.
Such trauma often occurs quietly and is only detected through changes in behaviour.
Children most affected, even losing a comfort pillow can have a deep impact
Dr Kamariah added that children process emotions differently and are usually unable to express their feelings in words, so behaviour becomes their primary outlet.
The loss of small objects, such as a comfort pillow, can also leave a deep impression.
“The memories, smell, and texture of that pillow are embedded in their psyche. Replacing it with a new one is not that simple. If it is taken away suddenly, it can trigger trauma,” she said.
Such untreated trauma can have long-term effects that persist into adulthood.
“We may not see it now, but later in adulthood it can manifest as attachment disorders (detached attachment) and overly dependent behaviour (clingy behaviour),” Dr Kamariah said.
She noted that some children go through a phase of denial when losing a friend or loved one, and some even create ‘imaginary friends’ as a coping mechanism.
Two weeks is enough to detect signs of trauma; do not take it lightly
The senior psychologist said that two weeks is a critical period to assess whether a person is experiencing trauma that requires professional treatment.
“If symptoms persist beyond two weeks, we recommend seeing a specialist. If not treated early, the trauma becomes very subtle, difficult to detect, and can eventually form cultural trauma,” she said.
Cultural trauma occurs when trauma symptoms are regarded as normal and attributed to other factors.
“We say we cannot sleep because we drank coffee, not because of trauma. Over time, society normalises trauma. That is what makes it dangerous,” Dr Kamariah said.
To address this, early intervention can reduce the impact of trauma by up to fourfold.
“According to studies, without early intervention, trauma can become two to four times more severe and shape a person’s personality,” she said.
Early signs of trauma that warrant attention include persistent changes in behaviour and emotions.
“Children may have difficulty sleeping or experience nightmares, become excessively alert (hypervigilant), and have flashbacks that occur without warning.
“Some may refuse to go to school, display aggressive behaviour, or experience physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, and bedwetting,” Dr Kamariah said.
All these symptoms are expressions of trauma that children are unable to articulate verbally.
She stressed that psychological first aid is vital to the recovery process, but the most fundamental step is giving children space to express their feelings.
“The most important thing is to take the time to listen. Parents need to become ‘mini psychologists’ at home; understanding their children’s emotions and validating what they feel,” Dr Kamariah said.
