[Hadassah On Call] Unpacking Trauma

When we label something “traumatic,” it’s important to first understand what trauma really is, according to Dr. Shiri Ben-David, the Hadassah Medical Organization’s chief psychologist.

A trauma is an event that threatens somebody’s life or body, and it can happen to the specific person or to their loved ones. And we need to distinguish between trauma and “difficult times.”

On the newest episode of the Hadassah On Call podcast, Dr. Ben-David says that Israel has experienced major trauma due to the events of October 7, 2023.

Dr. Ben-David walks us through the diverse psychological effects of trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and even resilience; treating trauma, including with early intervention, and the positive impact of a strong social support system.