Family Trauma Case #2

Riley is my 32-year-old cousin who lives in the same neighborhood as me. We have shared most of our childhood moments with her before she went moved out. Two years ago, Riley got involved in a motor vehicle accident after a road trip with her boyfriend. She suffered multiple fractures that led to her four-week hospitalization. During this traumatic incident, Riley had not put on her safety belt. Her partner did not suffer severe injuries as hers. Upon recovery, Riley did not want to relive those moments and recounted them as the worst period of her life.

Outcomes of the Incident

The traumatic incident did not yield any positive outcomes to Riley and the family. She developed a fear for private transport and would prefer walking for short distances, even to work. Fortunately, Riley recovered well without developing disabilities or deformities. She would resume her physical activities as usual but her emotional life was not restored. She was diagnosed with PTSD the same year for which she was treated on medications and trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy. Her situation was special in that she had just gotten her professional employment and her first salary. Her start of life setting up a family was faced by a setback from the trauma.

Coping Strategies

Riley had the best coping strategies of the family members that I have discussed and yet to discuss. Having achieved her tertiary education graduated with skills in social work and sociology, Riley was able to open up to the family in the time before the outcomes worsened. The family provided constant emotional, financial, and physical support for her in the recuperating and post-recovery periods. PTSD is one of the mental health outcomes of trauma. Involvement of family promotes coping with the outcomes in trauma according to Viana Machado et al. (2020). The occurrence of stress and related symptoms following trauma were significantly reduced.