What is Trauma?

Trauma is the emotional response that results from an incredibly stressful, frightening, or disturbing event that overwhelms a person's ability to cope. These events can be single incidents or ongoing experiences.

Traumatic events can be anything that makes someone feel unsafe, helpless, or out of control. Some examples of traumatic events include physical or sexual assault, accidents, war, natural disasters, witnessing violence, or the sudden death of a loved one. It is important to note that what is traumatic can vary by person - it's not about the event itself but how it is perceived by the individual.

Trauma can have a major impact on a person's mental, emotional, and physical health. People who have experienced trauma may experience symptoms like anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, and difficulty trusting others.

Types of Trauma:

Trauma can be broadly categorized into three main types based on the experience and its duration:

1. Acute Trauma:

• This is a single, unexpected, and often overwhelming event that causes significant emotional distress.

• Examples include: car accidents, natural disasters, violent assaults, sexual assault, or witnessing a traumatic event.

2. Chronic Trauma:

• This refers to repeated exposure to traumatic events over a prolonged period.

• Examples include: childhood abuse or neglect, bullying, domestic violence, or living in a war zone.

• Chronic trauma can have a profound impact on a person's mental and physical health, leading to issues like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and relationship problems.

3. Complex Trauma:

• This is the most complex type of trauma and involves exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an interpersonal nature, throughout childhood.

• It can be a combination of abuse, neglect, and other chronic traumatic experiences.

• Complex trauma can have a devastating impact on a person's sense of self, relationships, and ability to cope with stress.

Additional types of trauma that can fall under these categories:

• Medical Trauma: This can be a single event (serious injury, surgery) or chronic (living with a chronic illness).

• Early Childhood Trauma: Experiences in early childhood can have a lasting impact, even if not consciously remembered.

• Disasters: Natural disasters or man-made disasters can cause widespread trauma.

• Community Violence: Exposure to violence in your community can take a toll on mental health.

• Interpersonal Violence: This includes all forms of violence between people, like domestic violence or bullying.

• Refugee Trauma: The experience of forced displacement and violence can be extremely traumatic.

If you have or are experiencing any of these types of trauma, therapy can help you cope and heal.