WHAT IS TRAUMA?
Trauma is the internal response to a situation/perceived threat which overwhelms the individual’s ability to cope and can elicit feelings of overwhelming fear, terror, powerlessness, helplessness, shock, physical and/or spiritual pain.
In early childhood, repeatedly not having your needs seen, understood or validated by significant others can be traumatising. It can diminish your sense of self and your ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences.
Trauma is stored in the body. It is ingrained in the nervous system (Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Holds the Score, 2015). You can experience adverse events directly or witness them indirectly (eg. seeing a family member being physically abused) however the response in your body and mind can be the same.
PTSD and unresolved past traumas are absolutely treatable!
Types of Trauma
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Developmental trauma is the result of abandonment, abuse, neglect or birth difficulties experienced between 0-3 years of age, which disrupts cognitive, neurological, and psychological development and attachment to adult caregivers.
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Childhood trauma is experienced in childhood (prior to 18 years of age based on ACE research) and includes exposure to household dysfunction, including divorce, parental separation, mental illness, incarceration of a significant attachment figure, domestic violence or substance abuse.
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Physical trauma such as bodily wounding or shock, accidents, experiencing physical abuse, disease, sickness, hospitalisation, surgery, physical neglect, and assault.
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Sexual trauma relating to various experiences of sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, and being taken advantage of in some sexual manner.
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Emotional trauma including emotional abuse, emotional neglect, bullying, harassment, abandonment, rejection, invalidation, racial and discrimination trauma, workplace bullying and harassment, anxiety-related disorders, and panic attacks.
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Relational trauma, which occurs in one’s family or origin.
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Psychological trauma including work burnout, work stress, and financial strain or stress.
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Grief and loss, including the experience of loss related to the death of a loved one, death of a pet, abortions, adoptions, abandonment, divorce, the ending of a relationship, end of employment, retirement, and financial loss.
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War trauma including acts of terrorism and extreme violence.
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Incarceration trauma, trauma related to being in jail and associated experiences
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Natural disasters related to experiencing floods, bush fires, cyclones and hurricanes.
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Phobias, such as phobias related to heights, confined spaces, spiders or being alone.
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Cumulative trauma, relating to ongoing, long term, “Small T” traumas (see below).
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Trans-generational trauma, where trauma is passed down from generation to generation in a family system.
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First-responder trauma, related to police, ambulance, emergency medical staff and firefighters
Trauma can be broadly classified as “Large T” traumas and “Small T” traumas:
“Small T” traumas
One’s physical safety or life is not threatened as a result of a “Small T” trauma, however unprocessed trauma can have a significant negative emotional impact on one’s quality of life. “Small T” trauma can be experienced during divorce, loss of employment, moving house, infidelity, personal conflict, financial troubles, work stress, legal battles, changing schools or loss of friends.
“Large T” traumas
Also known as shock trauma. “Large T” traumas can be defined as experiences that elicit severe distress and helplessness, e.g. acts of terrorism, natural disasters, car accidents, war, child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence or violence.