Trauma is an emotional and psychological response to intensely distressing or threatening events such as accidents, violence, abuse, natural disasters or sudden losses. It can result in immediate reactions like shock, denial, dissociation and longer-term effects including intense anxiety & panic, flashbacks, difficulties in relationships, changes in mood and behavior and physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, sleep issues, agitation or numbness and freeze.
There are different types of traumas:
- Acute trauma: Resulting from a single overwhelming event (e.g., accident)
- Chronic trauma: Caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful situations (e.g., ongoing abuse).
- Complex trauma: Arises from multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature (e.g., childhood neglect and abuse).
- Secondary or vicarious trauma: Affects those exposed to others' traumatic experiences (e.g., emergency first responders).
Trauma can be caused by events that threaten one’s safety or sense of control. These experiences can include many types of events such as physical or sexual assault, exposure to war, either by serving in the military or living in a war zone, environmental challenges related to climate change, natural disasters, and accidents. Issues that can also cause ongoing emotional harm are bullying, discrimination, sudden or chronic illnesses, abusive religious practices and institutions, and abusive and negligent medical treatment.
Not everyone exposed to a stressful event will experience lasting trauma. Around 20% of those exposed develop post-traumatic stress disorder. However, many suffer from complex trauma resulting in psychological and physical symptoms that often appear less acute. These issues can be just as debilitating and negatively impact one’s functioning and relationships.
Several therapy modalities focus on helping resolve trauma symptoms. These include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Ego State Therapy, Somatic Therapies and long-term supportive psychotherapy help clients process these difficult experiences.
