How trauma manifests after injury and its impact on daily life

Trauma is one of the most significant but complex factors influencing the recovery journey after a life-changing injury. It is deeply personal, highly individual, and often unpredictable, shaping how both clients and their families experience and respond to the world around them. As Court of Protection solicitors, we see every day how trauma can affect behaviour, relationships, decision-making, and engagement with legal and rehabilitation processes. 

In this part of “Psychological support for clients in the Court of Protection“,  we spoke with Dr Shabnam Berry-Khan, founder of PsychWorks Associates, about how trauma presents in daily life, why its effects vary so widely, and how professionals like us can create the psychologically safe environments needed for healing.

Trauma is Personal and Individual 

One of the most important points Dr Berry-Khan emphasises is that trauma does not follow a single pattern. “There’s no rule book about how you’re going to respond to trauma,” she explains. “It will be different for you as it would be for me, even if we were experiencing the same situation.” 

This variability means that even the same person can respond differently to trauma at different times. Trauma is not only about what happened; it is about how the brain and body register and carry the experience.  

Different Types of Trauma and Their Effects 

Trauma can take many forms, and understanding these differences helps us support clients more effectively. Dr Berry-Khan describes “big” traumas, which are severe and life-altering, and “small” traumas, which may seem minor but chip away at a person’s sense of self over time. Trauma may be acute, chronic, ongoing, direct, or vicarious. All of these forms can significantly affect how a person experiences daily life. 

The impact of trauma is far-reaching and can include: 

• Anxiety, hypervigilance, or irritability 

• Flashbacks and intrusive memories 

• Emotional numbness or avoidance 

• Disrupted sleep and appetite 

• Difficulties with concentration and cognitive processing 

• Strained relationships and loss of trust, including trust in professionals 

Importantly, trauma is not always solely linked to the injury itself. A person’s life experiences before the injury, including intergenerational trauma, systemic barriers, or racial discrimination, all influence how trauma is processed and expressed. “From a psychological perspective, that history is incredibly important,” Shabnam explains. “It’s the basis of how that person will likely engage and take forward their rehabilitation.” 

The Experience of Families 

Families also experience trauma in their own right. Watching a loved one adjust to a new reality and rehabilitate along an unexpected life path is profoundly difficult. Many family members describe “tiptoeing” around the injured person, trying to manage their own emotions while supporting someone they care deeply about. They may also grapple with a sense of lost hopes and dreams, both their own and those of the injured person. 

This cumulative emotional weight can make everyday life feel overwhelming. As Dr Berry-Khan puts it, “Day-to-day trauma can feel like climbing a mountain. It becomes monumental, far bigger than how you or I might experience stress, because we’re not living it in the same way.” 

The Role of Psychological Safety

Given the depth and complexity of trauma, creating a sense of psychological safety is essential. Predictability, routine, and consistency provide the foundation for healing, both for individuals and their families. Professionals must recognise trauma responses for what they are and respond with understanding rather than judgment. 

This is something that resonates strongly with us as legal professionals. Clients often come to us in moments of distress, perhaps because of issues within a care team or difficulties in household dynamics. Sometimes, the legal framework means we cannot offer the solution they want immediately. For example, removing a carer involves a legal process and cannot happen instantly. But what matters is that our clients feel able to come to us and speak openly, without fear of judgment. 

Ensuring clients feel emotionally and psychologically safe is one of the most important things we can offer. As Dr Berry-Khan puts it, “It’s one of the biggest gifts we can give our clients and their family members, that they know who to ask and that in asking, they won’t feel judged or unsafe.” This sense of safety allows clients to engage more fully with their rehabilitation and legal journey, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. 

Trauma shapes every part of life after a catastrophic injury, from emotional wellbeing and physical health to relationships and trust. It is deeply individual, influenced by past experiences, and often shared by family members too. As explored in “Psychological support for clients in the Court of Protection”, creating safety, consistency, and understanding is vital. For our Court of Protection team, this means not only navigating the legal landscape but also recognising the profound psychological realities behind each case and building trust that supports the journey toward healing.