Single incident vs Complex trauma

As we’ve been discussing different ways of thinking about trauma, today I want to talk about single incident trauma vs. chronic trauma.

Single Incident Trauma: This type of trauma arises from a one-time event, like an accident, natural disaster, or assault. The memory and effects of this event can be intensely distressing but may be more straightforward to identify and address in therapy. Often a focus of treatment will be getting back to normal, to baseline, to how the person was before this traumatic incident occurred.

Chronic Trauma: This type of trauma is the result of on-going, repeated exposure to traumatic events, such as domestic abuse, bullying, neglect or long-term illness. It’s often more complex, deeply ingrained, and can profoundly affect one’s sense of self, others and the world around them.

Unfortunately, the effects of chronic trauma can be a lot harder to identify as they often woven into the fabric of a person’s life and are not easily identified. There is the complicating factor of there often being more than one source of complex traumatization as well, for example within the family, the school system and the wider culture.

And finally, treatment of chronic traumatization is rarely, if ever, about getting back to how things were before the trauma(s), because there may be no before. If this type of traumatization starts in the family, as it often does, it starts so young that there is no development of a baseline healthy relationship with ourselves, others, or the world.

Remember, healing is possible for both. Seeking support, whether through therapy, support groups, community, spiritual/religious practices, or loved ones, is a crucial step towards reclaiming your power and recovering. 🌈✨

Let’s break the stigma and support each other in our journeys towards healing. 🤝💖