Race and Ethnicity Affecting Trauma Survivors and Their Relationships

Racial and ethnic identity shape how people experience, respond to, and recover from traumatic events. Race-based traumatic stress — the emotional injury caused by experiences of racism, discrimination, and race-related stressors — can produce symptoms similar to other forms of trauma, including intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and avoidance. These responses are layered on top of any other traumatic experiences a person has had, changing how they perceive threat, safety, and trust.