Types of trauma

The difference between CPTSD and PTSD is that PTSD usually occurs after a single traumatic event, while CPTSD is associated with repeated trauma. Events that can lead to PTSD include a serious accident, a sexual assault, or a traumatic childbirth experience, such as losing a baby.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD; also known as complex trauma disorder) is a psychological disorder that can develop in response to prolonged, repeated experience of interpersonal trauma in a context in which the individual has little or no chance of escape.

What is trauma?

• Acute trauma: This results from a single stressful or dangerous event.
• Chronic trauma: This results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events. Examples include cases of child abuse, bullying, or domestic violence.
• Complex trauma: This results from exposure to multiple traumatic events.

The keywords in SAMHSA’s concept are The Three E’s of Trauma: Event(s), Experience, and Effect. When a person is exposed to a traumatic or stressful event, how they experience it greatly influences the long-lasting adverse effects of carrying the weight of trauma.

• Type 1 Trauma. Type 1 refers to single-incident traumas which are unexpected and come out of the blue.
• Historical, Collective or Intergenerational Trauma.
• Vicarious or Secondary Trauma.
• Little t trauma.

Trauma Types

• Bullying.
• Community Violence.
• Complex Trauma.
• Disasters.
• Early Childhood Trauma.
• Intimate Partner Violence.
• Medical Trauma.
• Physical Abuse.

With regards to duration and frequency, the term Type I trauma is used to identify a single incident trauma whereas Type II trauma denotes a trauma that is prolonged and repeated.

There are two types of reactions to trauma. Type 1 trauma reactions are associated with a discrete, relatively recent event. Type 2 trauma reactions are characterized by repeated or extended trauma over the lifespan, and typically are experienced by persons with a history of abuse in destructive families.

Emotional & psychological symptoms:

• Shock, denial, or disbelief.
• Confusion, difficulty concentrating.
• Anger, irritability, mood swings.
• Anxiety and fear.
• Guilt, shame, self-blame.
• Withdrawing from others.
• Feeling sad or hopeless.
• Feeling disconnected or numb.

Physical injuries are among the most prevalent individual traumas. Millions of emergency room (ER) visits each year relate directly to physical injuries.

Traumatic reactions can include a variety of responses, such as intense and ongoing emotional upset, depressive symptoms or anxiety, behavioral changes, difficulties with self-regulation, problems relating to others or forming attachments, regression or loss of previously acquired skills, attention and academic …

Re-traumatization can happen to anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. This includes people who may have developed or been at risk of developing PTSD, including: Refugees and asylum seekers. People who have experienced sexual abuse, domestic violence or human trafficking.

A person with PTSD can also experience the physical sensations of panic attacks, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and hot flashes. However, these attacks are brought on by the re-experiencing of the traumatic event through such experiences as dreams, thoughts, and flashbacks.

Any type of betrayal can cause emotional distress, but you might experience lingering trauma when someone you depend on to respect your needs and generally help safeguard your well-being violates the trust you’ve placed in them.

Retraumatization is a conscious or unconscious reminder of past trauma that results in a re-experiencing of the initial trauma event. It can be triggered by a situation, an attitude or expression, or by certain environments that replicate the dynamics (loss of power/control/safety) of the original trauma.

Common Therapy Approaches to Help You Heal from Trauma

• Pharmacotherapy. Pharmacotherapy is the use of medications to manage disruptive trauma reactions.
• Behavior Therapy.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Hypnotherapy.
• Psychodynamic Therapy.
• Group Therapy.

Smiling when discussing trauma is a way to minimize the traumatic experience. It communicates the notion that what happened “wasn’t so bad.” This is a common strategy that trauma survivors use in an attempt to maintain a connection to caretakers who were their perpetrators.

Signs of Secondary Traumatic Stress Emotional — feeling numb or detached; feeling overwhelmed or maybe even hopeless. Physical — having low energy or feeling fatigued. Behavioral — changing your routine or engaging in self-destructive coping mechanisms.

Common symptoms of compassion fatigue include:

• Chronic physical and emotional exhaustion. Find a Therapist. Advanced Search.
• Depersonalization.
• Feelings of inequity toward the therapeutic or caregiver relationship.
• Irritability.
• Feelings of self-contempt.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Weight loss.
• Headaches.

While Compassion Fatigue (CF) refers to the profound emotional and physical erosion that takes place when helpers are unable to refuel and regenerate, the term Vicarious trauma (VT) was coined by Pearlman & Saakvitne (1995) to describe the profound shift in world view that occurs in helping professionals when they work …

Compassion fatigue has similar symptoms to burnout. Compassion fatigue is a preoccupation with absorbing trauma and emotional stresses of others, and this creates a secondary traumatic stress in the helper. Burnout is about being ‘worn out’ and can affect any profession. …

Compassion fatigue (CF) is stress resulting from exposure to a traumatized individual. CF has been described as the convergence of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and cumulative burnout (BO), a state of physical and mental exhaustion caused by a depleted ability to cope with one’s everyday environment.

Time away from work, meaningful hobbies, exercise, and self-care may all help with compassion fatigue and burnout. Relax. Develop relaxation strategies such as meditation and cultivating mindfulness in the moment. Identify other resources that may help.

Signs of caregiver stress

• Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried.
• Feeling tired often.
• Getting too much sleep or not enough sleep.
• Gaining or losing weight.
• Becoming easily irritated or angry.
• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy.
• Feeling sad.
• Having frequent headaches, bodily pain or other physical problems.

vicarious trauma

Two studies reported the prevalence of compassion fatigue as 7.3% and 40%; five studies described the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress ranging from 0% to 38.5%.