The general definition of trauma is an event that is outside normal human experience and is life threatening or pose a significant threat to a person’s physical or psychological wellbeing. An event may have little impact on one person but cause severe distress and PTSD in another. Other stressful situations which appear less severe may still trigger traumatic reactions in some people. It is important to focus on how a person experiences an event and the impact it has on them.

For a deeper understanding of how this occurs, CLICK HERE and read about information processing and memory networks.

There are big “T” traumas and little “t” traumas.

Big T traumas may be:
–  Acts of violence such as an armed robbery, war, or terrorism
–  Natural disasters such as bushfires, earthquakes, or floods
–  Interpersonal trauma such as rape, domestic violence, or child abuse
–  Traumatic loss of a loved one, including the suicide of a family member or friend
–  Experience of a life-threatening illness or injury
–  Involvement in a serious motor vehicle or workplace accident
–  Finding out that a close family member or close friend was involved in a traumatic event
–  Attachment disruption, family violence, mental health issues and addiction can be extremely damaging to the development of children, especially under 5 years.

Little t traumas can be extremely damaging to a person’s self-esteem and severity of impacts are dependent on age, frequency, over time and may co-occur with big T traumas.

Some examples may be:
–  Public humiliation and shaming
–  Death of a pet
–  Interpersonal conflict
–  Infidelity
–  Relationship separation
–  Abrupt or extended relocation
–  Legal trouble
–  Financial stress

Trauma symptoms may include:  Confusion, mood swings, social isolation, hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, anger, fear, anxiety, panic, emotional numbing, dissociation, flashbacks, nightmares and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

When symptoms persist beyond 3 months there is a chance one has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), this may occur after one significant incident. Treatment of single incident PTSD can be relatively straightforward. People are more likely to develop PTSD if they have experiences other traumas in their life.

Where there has been repeated traumas, over long periods of time in childhood, this has been referred to as Development Trauma or Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). High stress and danger, and low safety and protection significantly impacts a child’s brain and personality development. Symptoms of CPTSD can present as many different types of mental health conditions.

To read more about the primary ways in which I treat trauma, follow the links below:

Learn more about my work with EMDR – CLICK HERE

Learn more about my work with Attachment – CLICK HERE

For more information about Adaptive Information Processing – CLICK HERE

For more information about Attachment, Adaptation & Memory – CLICK HERE

Sources:

www.trauma-pages.com/trauma.php

www.pathwaysofmind.com/trauma/what-is-trauma/

www.psychology.org.au/for-the-public/psychology-topics/trauma