Racial trauma is the result of racism, racist bias or racism on the internet. You can have racial trauma even if you haven’t experienced direct racism… It can create a barrier to forming relationships, trusting people, focusing on work/learning and daily life, making every day a struggle.
Causes
Racial trauma can be triggered even if you have not experienced direct racism in any way (i.e. online, in-person). Causes of racial trauma are experiencing direct racism, witnessing racism and/or being exposed to racism. You can be left physically, mentally and/or emotionally scared, causing everyday problems.
Affects
Affects can range from depression to negative thoughts. Here are some of the major ones:
- Extreme depression and anxiety
- Negative thoughts about ones-self
- Avoiding things that trigger memories about racism
- General distress
- Intense sensitivity and reactivity
- Distracted by thoughts about and memories of the racial trauma/racism
All of the above are serious and can hurt a person’s mental health. It’s not nice to have any of these and they can lead to a miserable life if not dealt with
