Trauma

Any disturbing experience that results in significant fear, helplessness, disassociation, confusion, or other disruptive feelings intense enough to have a long-lasting negative effect on a person’s attitudes, behavior, and other aspects of functioning.

Signs and Symptoms of Trauma

If you experience the below symptoms, please contact us right away, our therapists are here to help!

Shock, denial, or disbelief
Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
Anger, irritability, mood swings

Anxiety and fear
Guilt, shame, self-blame
Withdrawing from others
Feeling sad or hopeless

Feeling disconnected or numb
Changes in weight or eating habits

Thoughts of suicide

Some people will continue responding to trauma long after the danger has passed. Their mind’s immediate reaction to the emergency becomes a default pattern. Mental health professionals look for behaviors that have a lasting and detrimental impact.

Types of Trauma

Type 1 Trauma

Type 1 refers to single-incident traumas which are unexpected and come out of the blue. They can be referred to as big T trauma, shock or acute trauma. A condition related to big T trauma or Type 1 trauma is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Posttraumatic Stress (PTSD)

Posttraumatic stress is a treatable condition. People with PTSD may wish to contact a therapist. Therapy can help people process distressing emotions and memories. Understanding one’s symptoms is often the first step to reducing them.
Type 2 Trauma

Complex trauma describes trauma which may have been experienced as part of childhood or early stages of development.
Repetitive trauma refers to trauma which has been repeated over a period of time and is often part of an interpersonal relationship where someone might feel trapped emotionally or physically. They may also feel as if they have been coerced or powerless to prevent the trauma.
Historical, Collective or Intergenerational Trauma

This trauma is characterized by psychological or emotional difficulties which can affect different communities, cultural groups and generations. Adaptive coping patterns can be passed intergenerationally.
Vicarious or Secondary Trauma

This type of trauma can occur when someone speaks to someone who has experienced a trauma or witnessed a trauma first hand. The person listening can experience secondary trauma and experience symptoms experienced by the person explaining the trauma.
Little t Trauma

Little t trauma is less prominent and discussed less often. Little t traumas are experiences which are part of the everyday and are an expected part of life. They may however be very traumatic