What is Trauma?

Have you ever had an experience that overwhelms your capacity to cope with it effectively or in a healthy way? Most everyone would say that they have. Has a life event or a series of life experiences coloured the way you view yourself or changed the way in which you view the world? Again most people would say that they have. Any experience such as this fits the definition of trauma.  Trauma can be any experience (single event or series of events) that overwhelms your coping system and impacts the way you view yourself, the world, and how you interact with others in it.

Even though most people will have experienced something that they've struggled to cope with, the word trauma often illicit resistance and brings up feelings of discomfort. It is a loaded word for some; a concept some people don't want to hear about. Although, others embrace it as part of their life experience and take comfort in naming it and understanding their experiences for fully. Still other others courageously take steps to work through it. Acknowledging trauma is almost always needed in order to heal from it. Regardless of how you feel about the word trauma, you are not alone.

While everyone has experienced challenging and potentially traumatic events, the extent to which an individual is impacted by a trauma/series of traumas varies, depending on a number of different factors. If this were not the case, everyone who ever experienced a similar event/series of events would respond the same way; but we don't.  For example, two people involved in the same car accident can each respond very differently. One may walk away relatively unaffected, while another may feel intense anxiety every time they get into a car.

What you need to know

What the above example tells us is that it is not the event itself that determines whether a person will experience symptoms of trauma. Rather, it is the complex interplay of a person's life experience and mental-emotional capacity to that point. A person's response to trauma depends on factors such as their coping skills and support network, as well as individual differences in psychology and physiology. Whether a person effectively heals from trauma depends on these factors as well. The good news is that these things can be changed or altered in such a way as to support the brain and body's capacity to heal.

One of the most important things that people often don't know about trauma is that you don't have to have been a war veteran or an assault survivor to experience it. While these types of experiences may lead to symptoms, there are different types of trauma. To oversimplify it, a significant event trauma is often referred to as a big-T trauma.  However, there are little-T traumas that are less obvious and more insidious such as complex childhood developmental trauma.  In fact, often it is the ABSENCE, rather than the presence, of something that one needs that can lead to symptoms. For example, the absence of a sense of love from a primary caregiver can be very disturbing for young people. Again, it is not the experience itself that determines whether trauma will result, rather the individual's capacity to respond effectively. We all cope in our own way and, sometimes, an experience can get the better of us causing lasting damage.

Here is a list of common symptoms

-persistent negative self talk and negative beliefs about yourself and others

-chronic anxiety or constant worry or tension

-panic attacks: sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations

-flashbacks or memories that feel as though you were reliving an event

-nightmares about a situation or event

-recurring distressing thoughts

-phobias: unusual fears about specific things

-generalized feelings of guilt or shame

-destructive patterns of behaviour (including substance abuse).

If you or someone you love are experiencing any of these symptoms, there is help. A good place to start is to find a trauma informed therapist in your area and book an appointment. A good trauma informed therapist can help you to identify more clearly what you may be struggling with, and what you can do to  heal.