Trauma is a pretty hard topic for the start of January. Thinking through out the holidays about how there are people who don’t have a happy family Christmas to look forward to or attend. This series of Blogs is for these people but, also good information for all.
Trauma according to Google is the lasting emotional response that often results from living through a distressing event. Experiencing a traumatic event can harm a person’s sense of safety, sense of self, and ability to regulate emotions and navigate relationships.
There are 3 types of trauma 1) Acute 2) Chronic 3) Complex. What defines each is the level of experience or event related to the trauma. Acute Trauma is the result from a single incident/event. Chronic Trauma is repeated and prolonged such as domestic violence or abuse. Complex Trauma is exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature.
What defines a traumatic event is a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience that can affect someone emotionally and physically. There can be a degree of personal perception to the event that determines the outcome. There is no type of trauma that is “worse” than another. You can experience the same event as someone else and have a different reaction to it. Remembering that Trauma is not an event, it is how you experienced it.
Lately there has been interest and support to understand preverbal trauma, such as birth complications and inherited trauma because of the genetic changes in a person’s DNA. The changes from trauma do not damage the gene (genetic change). Instead, they alter how the gene functions which is called epigenetic change.
There is much focus on trauma in the areas on how to best support and understand the effects on the physical body as well as the mental state of the person.
Have questions, just ask info@mindhealthconnect.ca