Defining Trauma

What is trauma?

The "trauma" literally means wound, shock, or injury. Psychological trama is a person's experience of emotional distress resulting from an event that overwhelms the capacity to emotionally digest it. The precipitating event may be a one-time occurrence or a series of occurrences perceived as seriously harmful or life-threatning to oneself or loved ones.

Types of trauma:

Acute trauma reflects intense distress in the immediate aftermath of a one-time event of shortduration. The reaction itself is short-term, resolving on its own or with the help of counseling. A car crash, physical or sexual assault, the sudden death of a loved one, or even a medical emergency can create acute trauma.

refers to the harmful effects of events that are repeated or prolonged. It can develop in response to persistent bullying, neglect, abuse (emotinal, physical, or sexual", and domestic violence. Because of its repeated nature and inescapability, chronic trauma often has serous mental health consequences for individuals.

Complex trauma can arise from experiencing repeated or multiple traumatic events of differing types from which there is no possibility of escape, such as repeated child abuse. The sense of being trapped is a feature of the experience. Like other types of trauma, it can undermine a sense of safety in the world and beget hypervigilance, and constant "and exhausting!" monitoring ot the enviornment for the possiblility of thereat. Comples trauma experienced in childhood has been associated with the development of borderline personality disorder as well as PTSD.

Definitions from Psychology Today