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What Is Trauma? Signs You May Have Experienced Trauma

Pursuing a journey of processing childhood trauma is a daunting task. You may wonder if what you’ve been through even qualifies as “trauma.” I often hear people say, “What I went through wasn’t that bad… other people had it much worse.” These statements can minimize or even disqualify their experiences. The very denial of their experience is what can make someone feel isolated in the first place.

When a child experiences something scary or overwhelming and does not have the support to process it, their brain and nervous system may store the experience as a threat, which can contribute to a trauma response. Sometimes it is not only the event itself, but also the lack of support, safety, or connection afterward that can influence how deeply the experience impacts us.

Trauma is defined as an emotional, psychological, and physiological response to an event or series of events that overwhelm a person's ability to cope. Trauma can create a disconnection from ourselves, including our emotions, our bodies, and our sense of safety. One of my favorite psychiatrists, Gabor Maté, describes trauma as the internal impact of what happens to us rather than only the event itself. He explains that trauma can disconnect us from our emotions and our bodies. Trauma is not defined solely by what happened, but by how your unique nervous system experienced, adapted to, and continues to respond to what happened.

Trauma occurs when our bodies experience extreme overwhelm in response to a perceived threat. Even chronic neglect can be experienced as a threat to our needs being met. Early on, we might learn that people cannot be trusted or that others will not respond to our needs. Regardless of what the event was, if your nervous system perceived a threat, or chronic threats, to your safety, and it overwhelmed your internal and external resources for support, this can result in a trauma response.

Types of Trauma

• Acute trauma: A single overwhelming event, such as a car accident.
• Chronic trauma: Repeated or ongoing experiences, such as domestic violence or childhood abuse.
• Complex trauma: Prolonged, repeated interpersonal trauma, often beginning in childhood and affecting emotional regulation, relationships, identity, and self-worth.
• Developmental trauma: Trauma that occurs during childhood while the brain and attachment systems are developing.

Common Symptoms of Trauma

People may experience:

• Intrusive memories or nightmares
• Feeling constantly on guard or easily startled
• Avoiding reminders of the event
• Emotional numbness or disconnection
• Anxiety, panic, or irritability
• Difficulty trusting others
• Shame or negative beliefs about oneself
• Trouble concentrating or sleeping
• Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, digestive issues, headaches, or fatigue

What is the Therapeutic Process for Addressing Trauma?

First, we build a safe space for you to show up each week that is predictable, calm, and designed for you to show up as you are and to be seen, heard, and accepted. This can take time, and that's okay. There is no rush in the healing process.

In fact, the nervous system often needs slow, incremental change in order to adapt without becoming overwhelmed. The same way trauma can impact our sense of trust in other people, healing often occurs through safe, consistent relationships. The therapeutic relationship is an important part of that healing process.

We begin to heal when our nervous system can relax, trust, and soften.

Gabor Maté describes healing trauma as reconnecting with ourselves by restoring the connection with our bodies and emotions that may have been lost. As we build trust and safety together, this creates the space for you to reconnect with yourself and maybe even discover something about yourself that you never realized was there.

Rather than asking whether an event was “bad enough,” it can be more helpful to ask: How has this experience shaped the way I relate to myself, others, and the world? If an experience continues to affect your sense of safety, relationships, emotions, or daily life, it may be worth exploring with a trauma-informed therapist.

As we uncover the coping mechanisms that are no longer necessary but have helped you survive, you can begin to develop new ways of responding that better reflect who you are today. In doing so, you may discover a newfound perspective on life and the ability to feel fully alive again.

With warmth, Sarah

References

• Briere, J., & Scott, C. (2015). Principles of trauma therapy: A guide to symptoms, evaluation, and treatment (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Maté, G. (2019). How childhood trauma leads to addiction [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVg2bfqblGI
• Walker, P. (2013). Complex PTSD: From surviving to thriving: A guide and map for recovering from childhood trauma. Azure Coyote Publishing.