Walking with Trauma

            Have you ever heard someone say; “I have trauma.”? What are they saying? What do they mean?  Doesn’t everyone go to a traumatic event at least once in their life? Why is it important that you understand they have trauma? 

            Let’s start by answering the question what is trauma.  Trauma is an event or experience that is physically or psychologically overwhelming, powerful, and intense.[1]  The event or experience is sudden and unexpected. [2] Basically, it will stand out from your normal life experiences, and be fixed in your mind for years to come.  Your response to the event will affect your ability to cope, give you a sense of helplessness, diminish your sense of self, or ability to feel. [3]

There are many types of trauma.  For our discussion, we will review three types. These are: acute, chronic, and complex trauma.  Acute trauma comes from a single stressful or dangerous event, which is usually short term.[4] For example; a car accident, natural disaster or house fire.

Chronic trauma is a result of prolonged exposure to highly stressful situations.[5] It could also be more than one traumatic event that compiles over time.[6]  Examples are; consecutive deaths of family members, bullying, or harassment.

Complex trauma begins early in life, and affects the child’s development.[7]  It can involve any type of adversity or harm, but is usually out of the ordinary. [8]  The victim blamed themselves, internalize, and personalize the trauma event.[9]  Overwhelming incidents include physical and sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, child abuse, rejection, humiliation, neglect, abandonment, and emotional abuse.[10] Complex trauma also includes chronic abuse such as human trafficking and sexual slavery. [11] 

When someone shares they have trauma, they live with PTSD.   A Post Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis includes flashbacks, dreams, nightmares, or reactions to reminders of the trauma.[12]  These reactions are called triggers.  They also response to the trauma pain by numbing or live in a constant state of anxiety, physiological arousal or hyper-vigilance.[13]

So, when someone says I have trauma, they live with daily memories of harmful events.  The triggers will aid the body, the mind, and the emotions to relieve these traumatic events.

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[1] Courtois, Christine. It’s Not You, it’s what happened to you. Dublin: Telemachus Press LLC, 2020. 

[2] Courtois, It’s Not You, 5.

[3]  «Trauma and PTSD.» E Care Behavioral Institute: Webinar Training, July 16, 2022. https://doi.org/https://www.ecarebehavioralinstitute.com/product/trauma-and-ptsd/.

[4] «Trauma and PTSD.» E Care Behavioral Institute: Webinar Training, July 16, 2022. https://doi.org/https://www.ecarebehavioralinstitute.com/product/trauma-and-ptsd/.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7]. «Trauma and PTSD.» E Care Behavioral Institute: Webinar Training, July 16, 2022. https://doi.org/https://www.ecarebehavioralinstitute.com/product/trauma-and-ptsd/.

[8] Courtois, It’s Not You,5.

[9] Courtois, It’s Not You,6.

[10] Courtois, It’s Not You,5.

[11] Courtois, It’s Not You,5.

[12] Courtois, It’s Not You, 3.

[13] Ibid.