Unpacking What Counts as Trauma
Navigating the Complexities of Trauma
Have you ever wondered, “what counts as trauma?” Life can be really tough sometimes, right? We all go through ups and downs, but sometimes things happen that leave a lasting impact on us.
Perhaps you've gone through something in your life that felt really difficult, but it didn't match up with what you thought trauma was supposed to be. Or maybe you're trying to understand more about trauma to help someone you care about.
Understanding the different forms trauma takes can help you support yourself or others better. So, let's take a deeper look and unpack it together.
What Is Trauma?
Okay, first things first: what exactly is trauma? When we think about trauma, many people think about some big, scary event, like a tsunami ripping through your country. The best way to describe trauma is when something happens that's so overwhelming, it messes with your thoughts, feelings, or body.
Trauma can happen in many ways. Some common causes that most people know about are things like terrorist attacks, car accidents, or natural disasters.
Yet, there are other things that can cause trauma that aren't talked about as much. These can include things like seeing someone being hurt, having caregivers who aren't there for you, or dealing with a lot of pain or sickness. Other things like cheating in a relationship, losing a beloved pet, or having money troubles can also be traumatic.
Even things like being bullied, facing racism, sexism, homophobia, or others forms of discrimination, or going through a big change in your job can cause trauma. Basically, trauma is anything that makes you feel really scared, overwhelmed, or helpless.
Trauma is Different for Everyone
Trauma is different for everyone. How you remember an event might not be the same as how someone else remembers it, even if you both went through the exact same thing. Take siblings growing up in the same house with the same family—they might have totally different memories of what it was like.
When something really big happens to you, it can change how your brain and body work. Trauma can mess with your nervous system, which is a big part of how your body responds to things. It can make your brain see things differently, mess with your memory, change your moods, and make you feel less safe and secure.
After trauma, your body might feel like it's always on alert. You become super aware of everything around you, which is called hyper-vigilance. Even little things that seem small to other people can set off big emotions for you.
That's why it's important to understand how trauma affects us. Lots of people go through trauma without realizing it, and it can start to feel like it's just how life is supposed to be.
5 Common Types of Trauma
Trauma can come in many different forms, and it doesn't always look the same for everyone. Here are a few common types of trauma:
Physical Trauma: This happens when your body gets hurt or injured in some way. It could be from accidents like falling off a bike or getting into a car crash, or from someone hurting you on purpose, like hitting or punching you.
Physical trauma can cause pain, bruises, cuts, or even broken bones. Sometimes, it can also leave scars on your body. When you're physically hurt, it can be really scary and it might take some time for your body to heal. It's important to get help from a doctor or someone you trust if you're ever hurt physically, so you can feel better and get back to being yourself.
Emotional Trauma: Emotional trauma happens when something really upsetting or scary happens to you, and it makes you feel really bad inside. It could be things like being bullied, verbal or emotional abuse, losing someone you love, or being in a situation where you feel really scared or unsafe.
Emotional trauma can make you feel sad, anxious, or even angry, and it can be hard to stop thinking about what happened. Sometimes, it can also make it hard to trust other people or feel safe in the world around you. Just like physical injuries, emotional trauma can take time to heal.
Psychological Trauma: Psychological trauma is when something really scary or upsetting happens, and it affects the way you think and feel. It can happen if you go through something really bad, like being in a dangerous situation or being hurt by someone.
Psychological trauma can make you feel scared, sad, or even confused. It can also make it hard to concentrate or remember things. Sometimes, it can even make you feel like you're not yourself anymore.
Just like physical and emotional injuries, psychological trauma needs time and support to heal. Often, these experiences in childhood carry into our feelings as adults.
Sexual Trauma: This kind of trauma happens when someone does something to you in a sexual way that you didn't want or agree to. It could be things like touching you inappropriately, forcing you to do sexual things, or even rape.
Sexual trauma can be really scary and confusing, and it can make you feel ashamed or guilty, even though it's not your fault. It can also make it hard to trust other people or feel safe in relationships. If you've experienced sexual trauma, it's important to know that you're not alone and it's never okay for someone to do that to you.
Fear of Harm or a High-Stress Environment: Sometimes, we don't realize that living in a scary or really stressful place can be a type of trauma called complex trauma. This happens when we go through lots of stressful or scary things over and over again for a long time, like months, years, or even longer.
It could happen if you have a job where there's always a risk of danger, like being a police officer or security guard. It can also happen if you live in a home where you feel like you have to be super careful all the time to avoid getting hurt emotionally or physically.
It's hard to see complex trauma because it doesn't come from just one big scary event—it comes from lots of little stressful things piling up over time. Living in these kinds of places can make us feel really anxious, sad, or scared, and sometimes even give us nightmares or make it hard to sleep.
Signs of Trauma
So, how do you know if you've experienced trauma? Well, everyone reacts differently to traumatic events, but here are some common signs to look out for:
Feeling really anxious, scared, or on edge all the time
Having nightmares or flashbacks about the traumatic event
Avoiding things or places that remind you of the trauma
Feeling numb or disconnected from the world around you
Having trouble sleeping or concentrating
Feeling angry, sad, or irritable all the time
What Counts as Trauma?
Now that we've talked about the different types of trauma and some signs to watch out for, let's get to the big question: what actually counts as trauma? Well, the truth is, it can be different for everyone. What might be really scary or upsetting to one person might not bother someone else at all. It's all about how you experience and react to the event.
Big T Trauma vs. Little T Trauma
You might have heard people talk about "big T" trauma and "little T" trauma before. But what's the difference? Big T trauma is usually something really obvious and extreme, like being in a war or surviving a natural disaster.
Little T trauma, on the other hand, is more subtle and might not seem like a big deal at first. It could be things like constantly being yelled at by your spouse or parents or going through a messy breakup. But just because it's called "little T" trauma doesn't mean it's not a big deal. It can still have a big impact on your life and how you feel.
How Trauma Affects Us
So, what happens to us when we experience trauma? Well, it can affect us in lots of different ways, both physically and emotionally. Here are a few common ways trauma can impact us:
Physical Effects: Trauma can cause things like headaches, stomachaches, and muscle tension. It can also weaken your immune system and make you more prone to getting sick.
Emotional Effects: Feeling scared, anxious, or sad all the time is really common after experiencing trauma. You might also have trouble trusting other people or feeling safe in the world around you.
Behavioral Effects: Trauma can change the way you act too. You might start avoiding things or people that remind you of the trauma, or you might act out in ways that aren't typical for you, like getting into fights or using drugs or alcohol to cope.
Getting Help
If you've experienced trauma and you're struggling to cope, it's important to know that you're not alone and that help is available. Talking to a someone you trust, like a friend, family member, or your spouse adult, can be a good first step. They can help to support you and help you feel better.
Therapy can also be really helpful for working through trauma. A therapist can give you tools and strategies to cope with your feelings and help you heal from the experience. There are lots of different types of therapy out there, so it's worth exploring to find what works best for you.
Conclusion: You're Not Alone
Experiencing trauma can be really tough, but it's important to remember that you're not alone and that healing is possible. Whether you've experienced a big T trauma or a little T trauma, your feelings are valid, and there are people out there who want to help you feel better. So, don't be afraid to reach out and ask for support. You deserve to feel safe, happy, and healthy, and there are people who can help you get there.
Trauma Counseling in Chicago and Illinois
At Mindful Healing Counseling, we understand the challenges of living with trauma. That's why our team comprises several therapists specialized in trauma therapy, offering counseling services virtually to individuals residing in Chicago and throughout Illinois.
Our therapists are experienced and trained in working with people dealing with various concerns such as anxiety, trauma, depression, pregnancy and postpartum concerns, relationship difficulties, life transitions, setting boundaries, managing family dynamics, navigating grief, and more. We prioritize providing affirming spaces for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals. We offer a range of evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based approaches, relational therapy, and more. Our services extend to adults of all ages, as well as teens, college students, couples, and families.
Reach out to us today. You can contact us by filling out our contact form or by calling or texting us at 708-419-3171. We're here to support you every step of the way.
