What is Trauma?

Our nervous system and bodies are amazing, intelligent, and intentional where they are always working to protect us. Central to this protection is our Autonomic Nervous System, a sophisticated internal mechanism overseeing numerous automatic functions like digestion and heart rate regulation. Additionally, it serves as our protector, continuously processing and responding to our life experiences.

When we encounter stressors or traumatic experiences that overwhelms our nervous system making it difficult to cope, our resilient nervous system activates survival mechanisms to shields us from harm and keeps us safe. However, the same protective mechanism can inadvertently keep people trapped in cycles of traumatic memory. It leaves an imprint in our bodies and is ingrained in these defensive states for longer than it needs to, leading to the onset of chronic distress, depression, anxiety, persistent health issues, emotional challenges, and more.

Trauma is often discussed in relation to significant, life-changing occurrences like the abrupt loss of a loved one, a devastating natural disaster, or being in combat or war. However, it's important to recognize that trauma manifests in various forms and magnitudes. While these major events certainly constitute trauma, seemingly “minor” events can also have a profound impact.

There are many events or experiences that can create an imprint in the body and be known as a trauma.

Below are some examples of what is considered a trauma, that may go unnoticed:

Being bullied

Feeling unloved as a child

Emotional abuse or Neglect

Divorce

Moving a lot

Having people close to you leave

Having a parent who expects perfection

Living in a high-conflict family environment

This accumulation of traumas is sometimes known as Chronic Trauma or Complex Trauma.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition arising from exposure to a traumatic event or series of events that evoke feelings of shock, threat, and danger, either physically or emotionally. Despite the brain's remarkable capacity to process stressful experiences, sometimes it fails to integrate the traumatic event into memory properly, storing it in a "state-specific" manner. This means that sensations, emotions, thoughts, and sensory details can persist as if the event just occurred, regardless of how much time has passed. When memories remain in this raw, unprocessed state, it can lead to various problems, symptoms, and mental health disorders, including PTSD.

While everyone has both positive and negative emotional memories, those linked to events leading to PTSD are typically characterized by fear, pain, and sometimes anger. You could be going about your day, perhaps shopping, when suddenly, you feel disconnected from your surroundings, experiencing vivid sensations, images, or emotions related to the original trauma. These intrusive flashbacks make it challenging to concentrate on tasks, engage with others, or feel at ease without heightened anxiety or distress. Nightmares, whether resembling the initial trauma or symbolic in nature, are also common experiences for many.

People who experience PTSD symptoms often adopt avoidance strategies to dodge reminders of the trauma, avoiding people, places, activities, or thoughts associated with it. This avoidance can lead to a decline in engagement with once-enjoyed activities and relationships, causing strains in personal connections. Additionally, individuals may notice an increase in negative thoughts and feelings, accompanied by a limited capacity to express love and affection towards loved ones.

PTSD can also manifest in various behavioral and emotional changes, such as irritability, anger outbursts, concentration difficulties, and sleep disturbances. Some may become hyperaware of their surroundings, exhibiting hypervigilance, while others may resort to increased substance use or risky behaviors like reckless driving or promiscuity.

Despite its profound impact, it's important to note that PTSD is treatable, offering hope for recovery and overall life improvement.

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD):

Complex PTSD occurs when someone experiences repeated trauma over a long period of time. While PTSD typically arises from a singular traumatic incident, C-PTSD stems from the enduring impact of multiple, prolonged, or recurring traumas, often termed as "complex trauma”, such as persistent bullying, chronic abuse or neglect, or intimate partner violence. Complex PTSD typically entails experiences of betrayal and loss of safety inflicted by others over an extended period.

While C-PTSD can affect anyone exposed to long-term trauma, it tends to be more prevalent in individuals who endured traumatic experiences during developmental stages or suffered abuse by individuals they trusted, like caregivers or protectors. Consequently, the repercussions on the nervous system, particularly concerning attachment and relationships, often become deeply impacted.

C-PTSD results from many experiences, but some examples are:

Child Abuse or Neglect/Abandonment

Repeated exposure to disaster, accidents, deaths or violence

Domestic Abuse

Long-term exposure to bullying

Having to witness ongoing abuse or violence of another

The foundation of healthy brain development in childhood and adolescence relies on the presence of safe individuals, environments, and circumstances. Yet, many adults who have endured complex trauma faced prolonged periods of insecurity and lacked control over their surroundings during crucial stages of brain development. This lack of agency hindered their growth, denying them the opportunity to shape fulfilling lives and often breaking down their sense of worth and identity.

Without a clear understanding of their experiences, young survivors grow into adults who remain trapped in a perpetual state of hypervigilance and suffering, even after escaping immediate physical danger. Adult survivors of complex trauma frequently struggle with a number of distressing symptoms, including amnesia, detachment, chronic mistrust, persistent physical discomfort, recurrent victimization, difficulty connecting with others, chronic feelings of emptiness, intrusive flashbacks, nightmares, somatic memories (body sensations), anxiety, dissociation, difficulty regulating emotions, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, toxic shame, autoimmune diseases, and other challenging and potentially life-altering effects.