What is Trauma

Posted by admin on Sep 14th, 2025

What is Trauma. Literally, trauma is an enduring emotional response resulting from experiencing a distressing, frightening, or overwhelming event, such as an accident, violence, loss, or abuse. It came from the ancient Greek word trauma (τραῦμα), meaning “wound” or “hurt”.

Eventually, the word trauma evolved and went beyond emotional or psychological level.  Originally it is just physical.

There are many causes of trauma. Signs or symptoms are very complicated because you are not sure if it is really caused by trauma or by certain illness.

What is Trauma

Trauma is often described as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. In medicine or health, it is physical injury. But what is real trauma and how does it look like? How can it be treated?

What is Trauma
What is Trauma

Let us define and digest trauma in healthcare perspective. Honestly, trauma is a sudden, severe physical injury requiring immediate medical attention, or it can describe the profound psychological and emotional distress experienced by a person due to a distressing event related to illness, injury, or the medical experience itself…

Basically, if your children, teens, and adult have headaches, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular changes, fatigue, changes in appetite, plus the emotional and behavioral changes – they may have TRAUMA.

However, only a healthcare professional or your doctor can conclude it.

How Urgent care can help a patient in Trauma in New Jersey?

Supposedly, a patient in New Jersey with trauma should call the EMERGENY Department! Urgent care or walk in clinic in New Jersey cannot handle major trauma, can’t provide definitive trauma care, and can’t manage life-threatening emergencies – only ER can.

However, in the event that the patient needs IMMEDIATE care while waiting for ER, urgent care can assess and treat minor injuries, initial stabilization, diagnostic services, medication management, and other support to non-life-threatening illness or injuries.

If the condition gets worst, the patient can be transferred to ER. or just dial 911!

If your children, teens, and adult need immediate treatment and management of minor traumas, you can walk into any urgent care near you.

Try to visit the following urgent care nearby your location:

1235 West Chestnut Street, Union NJ 07083

Mon-Sat 11 am to 10 pm
Sun 10 am to 10 pm

Located on Route 22 West (GSP Exit 140) – Same complex as LA Fitness & Crumble Cookies. The location is directly next to Costco and across from P.C. Richards.

465 Route 46 West, Totowa NJ 07512

Mon-Sat 11 am to 10 pm
Sun 10 am to 10 pm

Located in the same shopping Plaza as Applebee’s and Hobby Lobby. 1000 feet off Route 80 Exits 54B and 55A (by Minnisink Rd & Furler Rd).

65 US-1, Metuchen NJ 08840

Mon-Sat 11 am to 10 pm
Sun 10 am to 10 pm
Conveniently located on Route 1 South just halfway between Garden State Parkway (GSP) Exit 130 and Menlo Park Mall. This location is formerly the Houlihan’s Restaurant and we are next to Dunkin Donuts on 77 US Highway 1.

1060 Stelton Road, Piscataway  08854

Mon-Sat 11 am to 10 pm
Sun 10 am to 10 pm

Located on Stelton Road (I-287 Exit 5) – Formerly the Friendly’s Restaurant, across from Hadley Center and next to TD Bank.

152 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Mon-Sat 11 am to 10 pm
Sun 10 am to 10 pm

Located 152 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302 right on restaurant row next to JC Taekwondo and The Sensory Gym

Physical trauma vs Traumatic injury

Blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, and deceleration trauma are some of the known physical traumas. Let us cite the definition from an orthopedics

Physical Trauma – a physical injury from wounds, broken bones or internal organ damage. 

Traumatic injury happens suddenly and where the severity requires immediate medical attention caused by blunt or penetrating/sharp. Blunt trauma includes falls, car accidents, crush injuries, assaults and burns. Penetrating trauma involves shooting, stabbing or falling onto a sharp object. Deceleration injury happens when you’re in motion and you suddenly stop.

In layman’s terms, physical trauma describes the cause of harm, while a traumatic injury describes the result of that harm, which is sudden and severe. They sound the same and related.

TIPS AND WARNINGS:

  • In general, TRAUMA in NEW JERSEY can be physical, emotional, psychological or mental – it hurts the patient one way or another.
  • When a trauma is too life-threatening just dial 911 or go to ER! 
  • If you are just confused on what is going on, go to any urgent care and let the doctor assess your children, teens, or adults. 
  • Always take care. Some traumas are not visible particularly those psychological levels. It is very important to be kind or understanding.
  • Whatever cause or type of traumas, urgent care is the most affordable way to treat it. You will be referred to ER or any specialist when it is really needed.
  • See to it that you have health insurance. You could save a lot if it covered.
  • It is estimated that 12,000 to 15,000 New Jersey residents suffer brain injuries from traumatic events each year, of which 1000 are fatal. Approximately 175,000 New Jersey residents currently live with disabilities from traumatic brain injuries. – NJDOH

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