What do substance abuse, eating disorders, sexual addictions, and mental health disorders all have in common? Trauma. Unresolved emotional trauma from your past is often at the root of many struggles associated with addiction and mental health. That’s why it’s important to know the different types of trauma that exist so you can take steps to pursue your own healing or help someone you love find theirs.
Emotional Trauma, Defined
The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event. Such events may include:
- Crime
- Natural disaster
- A serious accident
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Experiencing or witnessing violence
- The death of a loved one
- War
A traumatic event causes you to feel unsafe, physically or emotionally. Consequently, you may be in shock or in denial immediately after it occurs, but symptoms of trauma can linger long after the event subsides. These symptoms can lead to a lasting emotional response called emotional trauma, no matter what types of trauma that cause it. Signs of emotional trauma in adults can include:
- Persistent anxiety or fear
- Emotional numbness
- Flashbacks and intrusive memories
- Avoidance behaviors
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches, stomach aches, and other unexplained physical symptoms
- Hypervigilance
- Mood swings
Emotional trauma can arise from one singular, large-scale traumatic event, called “Big T” trauma (car accidents, sexual assault, school shootings, etc.). But it can also come from several smaller traumatic events over time called “Little T” trauma (divorce, racism, financial troubles, chronic illness, etc.).
The Main 3 Types of Trauma
Emotional trauma can happen to anyone, and when it does, it affects your emotional, mental, and physical well-being. While responses to trauma can vary based on the way you process it, the mental health community has established 3 types of trauma that you can primarily experience: acute trauma, chronic trauma, and complex trauma. Knowing these types of trauma can help you more easily understand any ongoing negative feelings and how to better cope with your past trauma.
Acute Trauma
Acute trauma is defined as a single traumatic occurrence or event, such as a natural disaster, a sudden death, or a vehicular accident. This type of trauma causes your brain to shift into self-preservation mode. This means the systems within your brain that aren’t associated with your survival will temporarily be “offline” until the traumatic event ends. Caused by endorphins, this process allows you to survive a dangerous experience. Common symptoms associated with acute trauma include:
- Difficulty getting good sleep (or sleeping in general)
- Anger, rage, and irritability
- An illogical distrust of other people
- High levels of anxiety or panic
- Disassociating yourself from your surroundings or other people
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 33% of people who experience trauma can deal with acute stress disorder (ASD) as a result. ASD’s symptoms are similar to that of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but only occur within a month after experiencing the traumatic event. However, over 80% of people with ASD go on to have PTSD eventually.
Chronic Trauma
Unlike acute trauma, chronic trauma arises from experiencing ongoing trauma in your life. It takes place as a result of a series of traumatic events, which may include bullying, domestic violence, ongoing sexual abuse, or racism. This type of trauma can often lead you to seek out unhealthy coping mechanisms like drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. If you experience chronic trauma, your symptoms may be similar to acute trauma, but also can include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Flashbacks
- Unpredictable emotional outbursts
- Low self-esteem
- Denial
- Distorted memories
- Sadness and confusion
- Anxiety
Complex Trauma
Of the different types of trauma, complex trauma is usually the most complicated, as the name would suggest. Complex trauma comes from being exposed to multiple traumatic events over time that are interrelated. Yet its definition also includes the difficulties you can face as a result of coping with and adjusting to these traumatic experiences as a survivor. After all, the events associated with complex trauma can lead to severe emotional and psychological distress.
Complex trauma is similar to chronic trauma in that it can arise from similar ongoing experiences, such as bullying, domestic violence, poverty, or neglect. However, complex trauma often occurs as a result of ongoing interactions with others over extended periods of time. This means it can usually start in childhood and is inflicted likely by people you know (including family members) over and over again.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Different Types of Trauma
For many, the different types of trauma they experience can arise from specific events in childhood called adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines ACEs as potentially traumatic events that occur between ages 0 and 17. Examples of ACEs include:
- Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Living with a relative with a mental illness
- Having an incarcerated parent
- Witnessing a family member treated violently
- Living with a substance abuser
- Divorce
These ACEs can represent any of the 3 types of trauma mentioned earlier. Not only do they negatively impact your formative years, but they can also affect your health and overall wellness into adulthood. And if left untreated, some of the long-term effects of childhood trauma include addiction, obesity, low self-esteem, self-destructive behaviors, and more.
Heal From Your Type of Trauma at Integrative Life Center
When you’re aware of your trauma, it means you can begin to take steps to heal from it. At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, TN, we provide both trauma treatment and dual diagnosis treatment for overcoming trauma’s lasting influence, as well as co-occurring disorders like substance abuse. To get started, contact our team now.
