When Tragedy Strikes: Understanding the Psychological Impact of Trauma

In the past weeks, headlines have once again reminded us how fragile life can be. When innocent lives are taken, whether through violence, disaster, or sudden tragedy, the ripple effects stretch far beyond those directly involved. Many of us who only witness from a distance, whether through the news, conversations, or social media, may find ourselves deeply shaken.

Why does this happen? Why do events we are not personally involved in still feel so heavy, even traumatic? And what can we do with the questions, fears, and even spiritual doubts that surface in moments like these?

We will explore the psychological impact of trauma, what the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) defines as trauma, why many will feel traumatic effects even if the event does not meet the strict criteria, and why wrestling with existential questions, including faith matters for healing.

Defining Trauma: What the DSM Says

Clinically, trauma has a very specific definition. According to the DSM-5, trauma involves:

• Direct exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence

• Witnessing the event happening to others

• Learning that a close friend or family member has experienced such an event

• Repeated or extreme exposure to details of traumatic events, such as in first responders or medical professionals

  
  

It is also important to understand what does not qualify. Repeated exposure to distressing images on the news or social media does not meet criteria, unless this exposure is required by a person’s work. From a purely diagnostic perspective, most people hearing about tragic events from afar do not technically meet the criteria for trauma.

Yet the human story is more complex.

Trauma and Traumatic Effects

Not meeting the DSM definition of trauma does not mean someone walks away untouched. Research shows that even indirect exposure to suffering can lead to significant psychological consequences.

This may take the form of vicarious trauma, the emotional residue of hearing about or witnessing the suffering of others. It may also appear as moral injury, the psychological distress that arises when events deeply violate one’s moral or ethical code. Another common response is existential disruption, where people begin to grapple with questions of meaning, purpose, and belief.

The symptoms often resemble trauma itself. People may experience intrusive thoughts, sleep disturbances, irritability, detachment, or even hopelessness.

The takeaway is that you do not have to be at the epicenter of tragedy to experience its weight.

Signs You May Need More Support

In the wake of collective or personal trauma, it is normal to feel sadness, anxiety, or unease. But how do you know when those feelings require additional help?

Look for the following indicators:

• Intrusive symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, or recurring upsetting images

• Avoidance of conversations, places, or reminders of the event

• Negative shifts in beliefs such as feeling that the world is entirely unsafe, that people cannot be trusted, or that life is meaningless

• Emotional blunting or difficulty connecting to joy, love, or daily motivation

• Hyperarousal such as being easily startled, experiencing ongoing sleep issues, irritability, or a constant sense of vigilance

• Impairment in work, relationships, or daily functioning

  
  

If these symptoms persist longer than a month or begin to escalate, it is time to reach out to a mental health professional or faith-based counselor for help.

The Existential Weight of Trauma

One of the most overlooked aspects of trauma is the way it challenges our worldview. For many, traumatic experiences or the awareness of human suffering ignite profound existential questions.

• Why do innocent people suffer?

• Is there meaning in pain?

• How do I reconcile tragedy with my beliefs about justice, goodness, or God?

  
  

These questions cut to the core of who we are. Trauma often dismantles the beliefs we have relied on, leaving us with pieces to either rebuild stronger or to abandon altogether.

Psychologists have long recognized that meaning-making is central to recovery. Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, argued that humans can endure almost any “how” if they have a “why.” Modern trauma research confirms that engaging these existential wrestlings rather than suppressing them leads to greater resilience and post-traumatic growth.

Faith as a Source of Healing

Research consistently shows that faith or spirituality offers a protective factor against trauma’s most damaging effects.

Faith provides language through prayer, scripture, rituals, and worship, which give expression to experiences that feel too overwhelming for our minds to process.

Faith provides community by fostering support and belonging in the midst of isolation. Faith provides meaning, even when it does not answer “why,” faith anchors us in the conviction that suffering is not the end of the story.

A review published in Psychiatric Times found that religious coping mechanisms such as prayer, attending services, or leaning on spiritual beliefs were associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety following trauma. Other studies confirm that individuals who draw upon faith in times of crisis often report higher resilience and lower incidence of PTSD.

Faith does not erase trauma, but it gives us tools to endure what cannot be explained away.

When Science and Belief Meet

This intersection of science, psychology, and belief was recently discussed on Andrew Huberman’s podcast, where he and his guest, Dr. David Desteno, explored how belief systems, whether religious or not, shape the way people process meaning and heal. Science can map what trauma does to the brain and nervous system. Faith, spirituality, and philosophy step in where science stops, helping answer questions of why and what now.

You can listen to that conversation here: Huberman Podcast Episode.

Practical Steps You Can Take

If recent events have left you unsettled, here are some practical steps you can take today:

1. Acknowledge your feelings. Do not dismiss your reactions simply because you were not directly involved. Your pain is valid.

2. Limit media exposure. Constant replay of tragedy retraumatizes the brain. Stay informed with boundaries.

3. Talk with someone safe. A friend, therapist, or faith leader can help you carry the weight.

4. Engage in grounding practices. Breathing, walking, prayer, journaling, or meditation can calm an overactivated nervous system.

5. Revisit your beliefs. Allow yourself to wrestle honestly with big questions. Growth often emerges from the process of wrestling.

6. Seek professional help when needed. Therapy, counseling, and sometimes medication are appropriate and can be life-saving supports.

   
   

We live in a world where tragedy, sadly, is not rare. Each time we are confronted with innocent lives lost, we are reminded of both our fragility and our interconnectedness.

If you find yourself struggling, know that your feelings are real and they matter. While there are no easy answers to the existential questions trauma raises, there is hope. Through reflection, community, and faith, we can find ways to move forward. We cannot erase the pain, but we can refuse to be consumed by it. If you would like to explore this further, I encourage you to listen to the Huberman podcast linked above.