Characteristics of a traumatic event is that it is unpredictable, uncontrollable and threatening the individual’s basic life values. It’s about the psyche unable to deal with the situation in a rational manner and when usual patterns of behaviour or strategies cannot be used. Humans react not only to what really happened, but also on what could happen.
Some of the people who experienced a traumatic event may also develop continuing more severe psychological problems. Although, it should be noticed that this concerns a minority of people.