The Many Faces of Trauma

Trauma can be caused by many things and can have a lasting effect on our lives. Therapists categorize trauma into different types such as acute trauma, chronic trauma, developmental trauma, complex trauma, vicarious trauma, and intergenerational trauma. In this blog post, we'll learn about each of these types of trauma.

Acute Trauma 
Acute trauma happens when something unexpected and intense occurs, like a natural disaster, car accident, or physical assault. People who experience acute trauma may experience panic attacks, ​or feel scared, shocked, and powerless. They may remember the event very clearly for a long time afterward. Acute trauma can also cause physical problems like headaches, tiredness, and problems sleeping.

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Chronic Trauma 
Chronic trauma happens when someone is repeatedly exposed to stressful situations, like living in a war zone or an abusive home. It can cause long-term problems with a person's body, emotions, and social life. Chronic trauma can cause things like worry, sadness, and PTSD.

Developmental Trauma 
Developmental trauma happens during important stages of growth, like childhood, and can cause long-term problems with emotions and relationships. Examples of developmental trauma include being ignored, hurt emotionally, or harmed physically or sexually. People who experience developmental trauma may have difficulty with relationships, feeling good about themselves, and controlling their emotions.

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Complex Trauma
Complex trauma happens when someone experiences many stressful events for a long time, often starting in childhood. It can cause problems with feelings, behavior, and health. Examples of complex trauma include being harmed or ignored when young, being hurt by a family member or living in a place with a lot of violence.

Vicarious Trauma 
Vicarious trauma happens when someone who works with people who have experienced trauma has a hard time emotionally. Examples include first responders, therapists, and journalists. Vicarious trauma can cause things like feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed.

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Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma is when trauma gets passed down through families. This can happen when people don't get the help they need to feel better after something bad happens. The effects of the trauma can then be passed on through how people in the family act, think, and believe. This kind of trauma often ends up being a big part of a person's identity and how they see the world. Intergenerational trauma can cause things like worry, sadness, drug or alcohol abuse, and problems with health.

Trauma can affect people in different ways. It can last a long time and cause problems with emotions, thoughts, and health. Most adults have experienced some kind of trauma in their lives. It might fall neatly into one of the categories discussed above, or it might be a combination of a few of them. Most of the time, trauma is the root of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. 

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​EMDR therapy can help people work through almost any type of trauma, including the ones we talked about. If you have been through trauma and it's affecting your life, it might be helpful to see an EMDR therapist. They can help you understand your trauma and work through it so that you can feel better. Remember that healing can happen, and you don't have to do it by yourself.

The author, Camilla Olsen, CMHC, is licensed to see clients in the State of Utah. If you are interested in starting therapy with her, please fill out the Request an Appointment form on her website.
You may also be interested to know, that she has published several books and workbooks. Click here to read more about them!