Is my trauma, really trauma?

Do you feel like your own experiences couldn’t possibly be considered ‘trauma’? That your experiences are miniscule in comparison to the traumatic experiences you have heard from others? Then do you ask yourself ‘Hmm why am I feeling so irritable, anxious, fearful, guilty..?’

Don’t be deceived, while experiencing a natural disaster and being the victim of crime would most definitely constitute a traumatic experience, yours may also.

So what are the different kinds of trauma?

• Acute trauma: this results from a single stressful or dangerous event such as a car accident, being the victim of theft or physical assault, experiencing the loss of a loved one or any experience that threatens your physical or emotional safety. That’s right, read that last part again, any experience that threatens your physical or emotional safety.

• Chronic trauma: this results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events such as child abuse, bullying, domestic violence, and experience of war.

• Complex trauma: this results from exposure to multiple traumatic events but also describes those that experience varied long-term effects.

• Vicarious trauma: this one is rarely talked about. It results in the experience of trauma through exposure to difficult images and stories second- hand such as Interpreter’s hearing Refugee stories and emergency care workers.

What is the take-away here?

Trauma is a pretty normal response to a terrible experience. We all have different experience of trauma; however, it is all trauma.  Regardless of our experience, trauma can have a significant impact on how we function and feel. Seek support when you need to, we are here to help.

Author: Kate Zughbi, Principal Therapist

RenewMe Therapy