Which is a common physical response to a traumatic event?

• A. Fatigue, Poor Sleep, Pain, Hyperarousal
• B. Tachycardia, Tremors
• C. Nausea, Lightheadedness, Dizziness
• D. Nausea, Lightheadedness, Dizziness, GI Problems, Tachycardia, Tremors, Headaches, Grinding of Teeth, Fatigue, Poor Sleep, Pain, Hyperarousal, Jumpiness

Answer: (D)

When someone experiences trauma, the body’s stress response can affect many systems at once, producing a range of physical symptoms. The fight-or-flight activation heightens autonomic arousal (tachycardia, tremors, jumpiness), disrupts sleep, and can cause generalized aches, fatigue, and pain. It can also trigger gastrointestinal upset (nausea, GI problems), headaches, and even tooth grinding during sleep. Because trauma can impact multiple bodily processes, the most representative description of common physical responses includes a broad cluster spanning autonomic arousal, sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain, and GI symptoms, plus stress-related behaviors like teeth grinding. The other options capture only portions of this pattern, whereas this broader combination better reflects how trauma can manifest physically.