Trauma & PTSD

Trauma has been categorized in different ways: 

• Direct harmful action or absence of a need
  • Commotion Trauma: This trauma results from overwhelming events, like accidents, assaults, or natural disasters, delivering a sudden shock to the system. It creates a state of intense arousal, making it difficult to return to a baseline of calm, and often leads to feelings of powerlessness. In short, it is something that happens to the person.

• • Omission Trauma: Unlike commotion trauma, omission trauma arises from the absence of essential emotional support or connection. It is experienced as a lack of love, attention, or validation and often creates a haunting sense of emptiness or inadequacy. Individuals affected by omission trauma might adopt beliefs like, “I am invisible,” or “I don’t deserve care,” or “I am not lovable,” which can shape how they relate to themselves and others.

• Intensity of the event
  • Big T Trauma: This type involves intense, life-altering events, such as violence, abuse, or severe accidents. It imprints vivid memories and exaggerated fears that drive hypervigilance, leading to a constant search for threats in the environment.

• • Small t Trauma: These are seemingly less intense events, such as relational conflicts or experiences of exclusion, but they accumulate over time. Small t trauma often creates subtle, lingering beliefs like, “I don’t belong” or “I am not good enough,” which can be just as haunting as Big T trauma over the long term.

• Specific Trauma Category
  • Dr. Frank Anderson, a renowned psychiatrist specializing in trauma treatment, identifies several distinct types of trauma, each with unique characteristics and implications:

1. 1. 1. Acute Trauma (Acute Stress Disorder): This trauma results from a single, impactful event, with symptoms typically resolving within 30 days. If symptoms persist beyond this period, it may develop into Chronic PTSD.
      2. Chronic PTSD: Occurs when trauma symptoms extend beyond 30 days, often leading to hypervigilance and exhaustion, as individuals remain in a constant state of alertness.

• Relational Trauma (Complex PTSD): Stemming from repeated relational violations, such as emotional abuse or neglect, this trauma can lead to beliefs like “I am not worthy of love,” resulting in self-sabotage or isolation. Symptoms include emotional dysregulation, relational difficulties, and somatic issues.

1. Attachment or Developmental Trauma: Emerging during childhood—a critical period for growth—this trauma impacts emotional and psychological development, creating fears and distorted beliefs that hinder relationships.
2. Cultural or Institutional Trauma: Arising from collective suffering, such as systemic mistreatment or discrimination, this trauma shapes individual identity, fostering feelings of disconnection or alienation from society.
3. Family Legacy (Transgenerational Trauma): Transmitted through familial lines, these internalized messages are often retained out of loyalty to family, affecting current behaviors and beliefs.
4. Dissociative Trauma: Resulting from extreme, inescapable trauma, individuals may disconnect or dissociate as a survival strategy, potentially leading to Dissociative Identity Disorder.