Causes of Psychological Trauma

Not all trauma is the same.
And the type of trauma we experience can shape how we heal.

Shock trauma is usually the result of a one-off, overwhelming event—like an accident or a sudden loss. It can cause intense emotional distress, anxiety, sleep issues, and even lead to PTSD (PHOENIX, 2019). But because it’s a single incident, there’s often space to process it—to talk about it, seek support, and slowly return to a sense of safety.

Complex trauma, on the other hand, is a different experience altogether. It comes from repeated or ongoing traumatic events, often in relationships where safety should exist. There’s rarely time to recover between incidents, and the body remains on high alert. This kind of trauma affects how the brain develops and functions—particularly the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.

And then there are the “everyday” mini-traumas—moments that might not seem like much on the surface, but still impact the heart. How do you respond to those?

• Do you bury the pain and carry on, heart a little more closed?
  
• Do you talk it through with someone you trust, weaving it into your life story?
  
• Do you reach out for professional support?
  

I’ve done all three at different times. As a sensitive person, burying never really worked for me. But we each develop coping strategies to survive the environments we grew up in. As adults, the invitation is to ask: What is healthiest for me now?

Which response have you tried most often? Has it helped?

Love,
Jen