The European Council in Prevention and Counseling in collaboration with FRÆ, the Iceland’s Counseling School and The INFACT, School of Food Addiction held a course on last September 8th where trauma and violence, causes and consequences were discussed.

The manifestations of trauma can be in various ways, but it must be kept in mind that people’s experiences of trauma are different. An event that some people experience as a shock may have little or no effect on others. Accidents, natural disasters, abuse, violence, neglect or the loss of a loved one are examples of trauma. The effects are of various kinds, anxiety, stress and changes in behavior which often become the way to deal with difficult life experiences. Research shows that there is a link between trauma in childhood and adolescence and substance abuse. Even so, the majority of drug users have experienced trauma at some point in their lives.