Want to learn more about what trauma is? Here you go.
Trauma is a difficult topic to talk about and is often avoided. This is unfortunate since research shows that about 6 of every 10 men (or 60%) and 5 of every 10 women (or 50%) experience at least one traumatic event in their lives. This research is also limited by binary sex identification and there is little research regarding other populations though it is speculated that they experience trauma at a higher rate. I don’t know about you but 50 and 60% are already high. To me this means that we need to be more open about this topic and today we are going to start by discussing what trauma is and the different types of trauma there are.
What is trauma?
Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that you either witness or experience yourself. The event(s) usually create a sensation of helplessness, hopelessness, shame and guilt. It is important to remember that people differ in what they find to be traumatic.
Trauma can be broken down into 3 categories
Acute: one single incident. This is an event that happened once and thus far has not been repeated.
Eg. Being robbed, Motor vehicle accident, Escalated argument
Complex: multiple incidents of different types of trauma. There are several events that have occurred through life without any type of pattern.
Eg. All of the acute trauma examples occurring to one person
Chronic: multiple incidents of the same type of trauma over a prolonged period of time
Eg. Abuse, Recurring escalated arguments, Cancer diagnosis, Covid-19
👉 Do you want to ready a trauma post? Check here first!
I’ve been in a car accident, do I have trauma?
The answer is maybe. Going back to the definition of trauma the event must be disturbing to the person. You and a friend can be in the same car accident and both come out of it differently. You may never think about the accident again, may feel lucky to have survived and continue through life basically the same as before.
Your friend however may struggle with getting back in a car, insist on being texted that you arrived home safely every time you are out and show pronounced anxiety while in a car. These symptoms may last weeks or longer.
In this example it is likely that you do not deem the experience traumatic while your friend does. That does not mean one of you is right and the other wrong. It simply means that trauma, like in the definition, is different for each person.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope this helps you as you take your own powerful and transformative journey. Per usual take what fits for you, leave what does not, and join me next time. Until then let’s stay social 
*This content is not a substitute for professional advice, treatment, diagnosis, or similar. Do not delay seeking medical advice or treatment because of this content. For any concerns about your mental health consult your medical professionals. For more on this disclaimer.
