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Information and Resources

Rock in Sand

What is Trauma?

Trauma is the impact of an overwhelming negative emotional experience which we do not have the internal or external resources available to process. This can be a single incident trauma (like a car accident), or ongoing cumulative smaller traumatic experiences (like bullying or social exclusion). Trauma stays with us and can cause us to continue to feel overwhelmed, unsafe, worthless or helpless. Trauma can be difficult to heal, though EMDR has been shown to be an effective treatment. The treatment of trauma becomes more difficult and lengthier as the complexity of the trauma increases.

Trauma vs Complex Trauma?

Trauma can require less treatment to resolve if it relates to a single incident occurring during adulthood. This type of trauma tends to result in feeling unsafe, symptoms of panic, avoidance of triggers and flashbacks and/or nightmares.

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Complex Trauma generally requires more time and specific nuanced interventions to treat. Complex trauma often occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to extremely stressful or unsafe environments with no capacity to escape or find safety. Complex trauma usually occurs during childhood, though can also occur during adulthood (for example - during an ongoing unsafe intimate relationship). Complex trauma, in addition to the symptoms listed above, can also lead to feeling worthless, overwhelmed and helpless. Complex trauma can result in loss of trust, fear of abandonment, fear of relationships and in symptoms of dissociation, which at their most severe may constitute a dissociative disorder.

Forest

What is Dissocation?

Dissociation is a disconnection from our emotions, memories, body, thoughts or identity. Dissociation occurs across a spectrum spanning from healthy normal daydreaming to severe structural dissociation as seen in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The level of disconnection occurring within someone’s system is indicative of how severe the dissociation is, for example, severe structural dissociation often involves a compartmentalisation of memories, with certain memories only being available to certain parts of the personality. Dissociation is not a ‘bad’ thing but is a survival strategy to mentally escape from overwhelming experiences to allow for psychological survival and maintained functioning. Dissociation becomes a problem when we have had to rely on it to survive and as a result lose our capacity to have some control over when we use this strategy or not. Too much dissociation can result in patchy or ‘Swiss-cheese’ memory, feeling unsure of who we actually are, large gaps in memory, somatic symptoms/pain and hearing voices. Approximately 3-10% of the general population regularly have intrusive sensory experiences, like hearing voices or seeing visions.

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