About Trauma
What is Trauma?
When we experience a traumatic event, it often leaves a lasting impact. Even if we don’t realize it right away. Trauma can sometimes lead to diagnoses like PTSD or cPTSD, but it doesn’t have to result in a disorder to affect your life. Trauma can influence your emotions, thoughts, body, and relationships, and sometimes its effects don’t appear until months or even years later.
What counts as a traumatic event?
A traumatic event is anything that causes harm (physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual) and leaves you feeling unsafe, threatened, or overwhelmed. Examples include:
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Emotional, physical, sexual, or financial abuse
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The death of a loved one
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Serious illness or injury
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Natural disasters or war
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Bullying or prolonged stress
It’s also common for survivors to wonder if what they went through was “bad enough” to count as trauma. This is sometimes called trauma imposter syndrome, and it can make healing harder. (You can read more about it in my blog post here.)
Types of Trauma
Trauma can look different depending on the events and experiences involved:
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Acute Trauma: Caused by a single traumatic event.
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Chronic Trauma: Caused by repeated or long-term exposure to trauma (e.g., child abuse, domestic violence).
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Complex Trauma: Exposure to multiple, often layered, traumatic experiences.
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Vicarious Trauma: Trauma experienced indirectly, often through close contact with someone else’s trauma (common for therapists, caregivers, and first responders).
Learning More About Trauma
Understanding trauma can help you make sense of your experiences and begin to heal. Explore more about:
When you’re ready to focus on moving forward, visit the Healing section for coping skills, DBT strategies, and guidance on building a path toward recovery.
Your trauma is valid, and learning about it is the first step in healing
[Back to Understanding Trauma]
Disclaimer: This page is for informational and peer-support purposes only. I am not a medical or mental health professional. Please [read my full disclaimer] for more information.
