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“Trauma is not what happens to you, it is what happens inside of you as a result of what happened to you.” – Gabor Maté
What is Trauma?
Trauma is a term we’re hearing more and more in conversations about mental health and well-being. While many associate it with highly distressing or life-threatening events, the reality of trauma is much deeper and more complex. Trauma isn’t just about what happens—it’s also about the lasting impact on our minds and bodies.
At its core, trauma is our psychological, emotional, and physiological response to highly stressful or threatening situations. When we encounter something that overwhelms our ability to cope, our nervous system reacts, triggering survival mechanisms like “fight,” “flight,” “freeze,” or “fawn.” These reactions help protect us in the moment, but they often leave lasting imprints on our nervous system, affecting how we respond to stress in the future.
Even when the immediate danger has passed, trauma can linger. If someone experiences ongoing symptoms like hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, emotional overwhelm, or shutdown, they may meet the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex PTSD . However, many people don’t meet the full criteria yet still experience the significant, life-altering effects of trauma.
Types of Trauma
To better understand trauma, I want to introduce two concepts that can help categorize different types: Traumas of Commission vs. Omission, and Single Incident Trauma vs. Complex Trauma.
Traumas of Commission vs. Traumas of Omission
- Traumas of Commission involve harmful actions that are done to a person. These could include physical abuse, sexual assault, verbal aggression, or emotional abuse. In these situations, the trauma stems directly from something inflicted on the individual, and the nervous system often responds by entering survival mode. This can lead to classic trauma symptoms like hypervigilance or flashbacks.
- Traumas of Omission involve the absence of necessary care—what wasn’t done when it should have been. Examples include neglect, lack of affection from a caregiver, or unmet emotional needs. While these types of trauma are less visible, they can be just as damaging, especially when they happen early in life. In response to this chronic lack of support, the nervous system might develop patterns of shutdown, dissociation, or internalized shame.
Single Incident Trauma vs. Complex Trauma
- Single Incident Trauma (or “acute trauma”) results from a specific event, like a car accident, natural disaster, or an episode of assault. The trauma response in these cases is tied to that one event, and while the impact can be severe, it’s often easier to identify and treat.
- Complex Trauma arises from prolonged or repeated exposure to traumatic events, especially within close relationships. This could include ongoing abuse, chronic neglect, or living in a persistently unsafe environment. Complex trauma is particularly damaging because the individual often feels trapped or powerless—think of situations like domestic violence or childhood trauma.
With complex trauma, the nervous system doesn’t get the chance to return to a state of calm. Instead, it remains stuck in a cycle of dysregulation, leading to pervasive issues such as difficulties with attachment, self-regulation, and a stable sense of self. This can manifest as chronic anxiety, depression, dissociation, and struggles in forming or maintaining relationships.
Trauma’s Impact on the Nervous System
Now that we’ve explored what trauma is and the experiences that can cause it, let’s take a brief look at what happens inside a person who has been traumatised.
The nervous system plays a critical role in how trauma is experienced and remembered. When we face a threat, our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) kicks into action. The ANS consists of two branches:
- Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): Responsible for the “fight or flight” response, increasing heart rate, pumping adrenaline, and preparing the body to confront or escape danger.
- Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): This system promotes “rest and digest,” helping the body calm down once the threat has passed.
When trauma occurs, the nervous system can become dysregulated. Instead of returning to balance, it may remain in a heightened state of arousal (SNS) or become stuck in shutdown mode (PNS). This dysregulation is often behind the symptoms we associate with trauma. When our nervous system is in balance, we feel safe, connected, and grounded.
This highlights an important point: trauma is as much about the nervous system as it is about the event itself. What is traumatic to one person might not to another. Many survivors of trauma and their loved ones focus too much whether “something bad has happened” or analyzing the “severity” of the event, which can prevent them from acknowledging the true impact trauma has had on them. This often delays seeking appropriate support and may lead to further difficulties down the line.
In the next article, we’ll explore approaches to healing trauma, including evidence-based treatments that target the rewiring of the nervous system.
