There are several influences, experiences, and environments that lead to trauma, fuel trauma, and aren’t equipped to handle trauma. When we understand what it is and how it can be dealt with in our lives then it can become a tool for success.
Trauma can be broken down and understood in the following ways.
It’s also important to note that trauma and abuse go hand in hand. different forms abuse of include physical, sexual, emotional mind, people or surroundings.
👉🏼Acute Trauma stems from a single, overwhelming traumatic episode.
Examples:
Car accident | Robbery | Hostage | Mass shooting | Sexual Assault | Birth | Miscarriage |
👉🏼Complex Trauma often includes various other forms of trauma mentioned here as well and it’s intensity also stems from the fact that it’s generally occurring within interpersonal relationships and confined environments. It’s often the root or significant part of developmental/childhood trauma.
Examples:
Abuse - all forms | Violence | Cults | Bullying | Gang mentality.
👉🏼Repetitive Trauma is similar to complex trauma in the sense that it repeats but it can also stem from an event or space in time that required a huge change or progress to return to health. It tends to be related to situations that require a resolution.
Examples:
Chronic Illness that leads to mental illness | Chemotherapy | Repeated Medical Treatments | Triggering check ups or updates |
👉🏼Vicarious Trauma comes from being a witness or a bystander to trauma. It comes from a different perspective of observing trauma happening to someone or something else. It’s also common to come through to caregivers and space holders or teachers that are guiding transformation and awakening.
Examples:
Witnessing an acute trauma like a car accident | Being present at a death | Being a caregiver | Hospice & Palliative care workers | Funeral service professionals.
👉🏼Historical can be also known as Generational Trauma. It is suffered usually as an entire family/group/culture and often carries many levels of complex trauma as the different years, ideas, and generations vary and or new worldly stimulus contribute. It is unique in the sense that the sufferer may have never been exposed to the specific root trauma itself. However, their “Trauma Gene, if you will” or their DNA is aware of the trauma experienced by others before them and they without stimulus continue to suffer the affects and symptoms.
Examples:
Holocaust survivor’s great grandchildren struggling with PTSD | Colonization | Racism stemming from slavery | Residential Schools/ Indian Boarding Schools | Russian Genocide on Ukraine for more 400 years.
👉🏼Developmental or childhood trauma comes from trauma experienced during formative years of growth and
Each one of these types of trauma can stem from various different situations depending on the surroundings and severity of the situation or event. It’s also important to note: Trauma isn’t cut and dried. If you have experienced one type, it’s a guarantee that it spills over to and from other experiences, relationships, timelines, triggers, and reflections.
Developmental has many layers as it often carries forward and morphs into other stimulus for illness later in life.
Examples:
Abuse | Abandonment | Violence | Confusion | Custody | Death/Grief
There are four further ways of identifying this trauma as seen below.
Identifying symptoms of trauma is as unique as each of our trauma’s are to us. Here are some ways trauma presents within our daily lives and health.
Treating, and addressing trauma is a topic for another blog where several modalities will provide more insight. But it can be said that once you release even a little trauma, your body usually likes the new space to receive and expand.
It responds with vital new energy, balance and optimism. It’s generally relieved at first and basking in the new space to receive. But it needs time to adjust and isn’t sustainable in one try.
Our brain is a well oiled machine that is very set in its ways. Like us, it needs a little practice and some support guiding its progress along the way. Sometimes it takes a few efforts and a series of planned times dedicated to feeling and releasing. Illness, fatigue, anxiety, hormonal dysfunction, etc won’t stop popping up reminding you to keep up and dig deeper and keep clearing.
That is why it’s up to us to make room, and welcome higher vibrations of love, compassion, joy, pleasure, hope, gratitude and abundance. For when we do that, we keep pushing out the trauma and the process is filled with joy and things we sort of crave.
Eventually, when we keep working on self care and maintaining our emotions and flow we are able to use the time we set for healing of trauma to be for
✨healing of nature,
✨our loved ones,
✨pets and animals,
✨creating art and imagination
✨learning and wisdom
✨sharing and growing community
The more we release, the more able we are to receive. Sometimes it is just that we are too full of stored trauma to sort through the authenticity of connection, partnerships, or boundaries and choices are made that sometimes come with radical consequences.
That can also grow trauma and confuse the process.
Trauma is our own unique opportunity to listen.
Trauma is our chance to
make changes that break cycles.
Trauma is a truth twisted into a scary story. Trauma is looking for a place to be heard so it can move on.
Trauma is the place that is waiting for love.
By Stephy LaPrairie
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