Trauma - a mind-body experience
Trauma is an often used word to describe a nervous system response. Traumatic events affect your nervous system (fight, flight, freeze response) and often trigger feelings of helplessness, fear, and powerlessness. However, every traumatic event does not impact everyone equally. Traumatizing or traumatic events can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but not always. This can be confusing when figuring out what exactly trauma is.
There are three main types of trauma therapists may reference when saying the word trauma.
Acute: This trauma is a singular but intense and life/body-threatening event. This includes and is not limited to physical assault, sexual assault, severe illness or injury, combat, terrorist attacks, vehicular accidents, and natural disasters. Acute trauma is generally the most understood by outsiders, as the pain and helplessness experienced in an acute trauma are easily understood by others as traumatic. From a healing standpoint, while it can be debilitating, it is also typically easier to heal from with appropriate treatment and support. . Acute trauma can be present with other forms of trauma, adding complexity to the healing process.
Chronic- This type of trauma happens over an extended period. It includes, but is not limited to, intimate partner violence, prolonged exposure to war/combat, multiple natural disasters, multiple medical traumas, and child abuse. This type of trauma happens over time, shaping the nervous system differently than acute trauma. Due to the prolonged nature of the incidents occurring and the system (family, government, region, school, hospital, etc.) not having the support to address the issue promptly. It will more likely develop into PTSD than acute trauma. It will take more resources to heal. Shame can also be present with chronic trauma, and victims of this may need additional support for healing. This type of trauma can also overlap with other forms of trauma.
Complex- This type of trauma that came from relationships and relational dynamics. Complex trauma is also prolonged and harder to recognize as there is no specific physical nature to this type of trauma. This type of trauma is generally seen in childhood but not understood until adulthood. In relationships, typically with parents and children, enmeshment, parentification, chronic emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and gaslighting all contribute to complex trauma. These are subtle ways that people usually would not see unless you were part of an intimate relationship that is abusive in this manner. The symptoms of complex trauma mirror those with physical trauma and add the complexity of losing the sense of self, difficulty controlling emotions, and challenges in relationships. Complex trauma can be present with other forms of trauma.
Any trauma affects the nervous system. When people experience any threatening event (real or perceived), our nervous system prepares them for survival. Our brains are fantastic as they assess our response (fight, flight, and freeze) and send signals to our body to protect us in a split second. The brain signals to the body, preferably, get away (flight) or fight so we can get away after the fight. If we cannot outrun or fight to safety, our brain uses another defense, freezing. It is a form of "playing dead" to protect us psychologically from the real and present danger and keep us as safe as possible.
All of the unconscious works from the brain to the body, and the body signals to the brain what it is experiencing to make informed decisions. This is why people often have physical manifestations when trauma is unresolved (when the body and brain keep signaling a threat when there isn't one).
Due to the mind and body interaction, specifically with trauma, it is essential to work with a therapist and a physician during the healing. This assists in ruling out any underlying medical conditions and addressing and treating medical symptoms while addressing unresolved trauma.
