Trauma is the lasting emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical response to an experience, or experiences, that felt overwhelming, threatening, or deeply disturbing.

It isn't defined by the event itself, but by the impact it leaves on a person's sense of safety, self, and the world around them.

Traumatic experiences can include things like accidents, natural disasters, violence, abuse, sudden loss, medical crises, or witnessing or experiencing harm to yourself or others.

Trauma can also stem from internal experiences such as chronic stress, emotional neglect, relational wounds, or growing up in an unpredictable environment.

There is no hierarchy of trauma. What deeply impacts one person may not impact another in the same way, and both responses are equally real and valid.

One of the most important things to understand about trauma is that it does not look the same from person to person. Two people can go through a similar experience and come away with very different responses, and both are completely legitimate.

For some, trauma surfaces as intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares. For others, it may appear as emotional numbness, difficulty concentrating, or a persistent sense of being "on edge." Some people withdraw from relationships and activities they once loved. Others may struggle with shame, guilt, or a distorted sense of blame while feeling somehow responsible for what happened to them.

Physical symptoms are also common and often overlooked. Fatigue, chronic pain, headaches, digestive issues, and a heightened startle response can all be the body's way of carrying what the mind hasn't yet been able to process.

The timeline of trauma looks different for everyone. Some people experience acute distress immediately following an event. For others, symptoms may not surface until months or even years later, sometimes triggered by a life transition, a relationship, or something that unconsciously recalls the original experience.

The timeline may also change with supportive interventions such as therapy.

Our team members have different training and skillsets to support you in what you’re going through.

Some of our team members are trained in EMDR which can help to reprocess trauma and reduce emotional distress and trauma-related symptoms.

Learn more about EMDR.

PTSD typically develops in response to a single traumatic event or a short-term experience.

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) develops from prolonged, repeated exposure to traumatic stimuli, often in situations where escape felt impossible. This can be related to experiences such as childhood abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or long-term emotional manipulation.

Alongside many of the same symptoms as PTSD, C-PTSD can also involve deep difficulties with self-worth, emotional regulation, and trusting others.

Absolutely, trauma can develop from something you did not experience directly.

Witnessing something frightening or distressing happen to someone else, or even repeatedly hearing about traumatic events, can leave a have a lasting impact. This is sometimes called secondary or vicarious trauma, and it's especially common among first responders, caregivers, and loved ones of trauma survivors.

Your nervous system doesn't always distinguish between experiencing something and witnessing it. It can still feel threatening or overwhelming.

Yes, it is a common experience to not remember details, or sometimes all of what happened to you when it comes to trauma.

Memory and trauma have a complicated relationship; the brain sometimes protects us by blurring, fragmenting, or suppressing distressing experiences.

You may remember feelings or physical sensations without clear images or details, or find that memories surface gradually over time.

A lack of clear memory does not mean nothing happened, and it doesn't make your experience any less real or deserving of care.

Beginning to process trauma, whether through therapy or simply allowing yourself to feel things you've been suppressing, can initially stir things up.

For a long time, avoidance may have been keeping things manageable. When you start gently moving toward what happened rather than away from it, the nervous system responds. This is a normal and often necessary part of healing.

A good therapist will help you move at a pace that feels safe, and support you through the harder moments along the way.