What Is Trauma?

Trauma is an emotional and psychological response to a profoundly distressing event that has occurred to a person, or that one has witnessed. This experience can often induce feelings of unsafety, vulnerability or disconnectedness from society and affect an individual’s sense of trust.  

Trauma mustn’t be invalidated as each individual’s reaction to an adverse life event is subjective. Some may not necessarily be affected by a particular experience, whilst others may find the same situation deeply traumatising. Often, high levels of fear and vulnerability are noticeable common symptoms of traumatisation. 

Psychological and emotional trauma are categorised into two main types: Type I and Type II Trauma.

Type I Trauma

Type I trauma relates to single-event traumas, which can be sudden and unforeseen by the individual who experiences or witnesses it happening to someone else.

This type of trauma may be caused by

  • Physical or sexual assault
  • Robbery
  • Car accident
  • Witnessing natural disasters
  • War
  • Injury/accident
  • Unexpected violent attack in childhood or adulthood
  • Traumatic child birth

Type II Trauma

Type II Trauma describes repeated traumatic events or incidents taking place for a prolonged period (i.e. ongoing, persistent stress).

This type of trauma may be caused by:

  • Childhood abuse, neglect or abandonment
  • Lack of affection from caregivers
  • Family rejection
  • Domestic violence
  • Bullying
  • Grooming
  • Living in crime affected neighbourhoods
  • Critical life-threatening illness/ injury or treatment for the illness/ injury

Other commonly overlooked trauma events- i.e. surgery, medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy), miscarriages, the sudden death of someone close, infidelity, divorce or breakup of a significant relationship.