According to the American Psychological Association, trauma is defined as an emotional response to a terrible event. There are three main types of trauma: Acute, Chronic, and Complex. Acute trauma results from a single incident, chronic trauma is repeated and prolonged incidents, and complex trauma is exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events. Some common reactions to trauma include: feeling distant or detached, feeling jumpy or easily startled, problems at work or school, and avoiding people, places, and things related to the event. Some physical reactions could be upset stomach and trouble eating, severe headaches, rapid breathing, pounding heart, and trouble sleeping or feeling very tired.

Given the broadness of trauma, sometimes we think to ourselves “does this count as trauma?” If you are asking this question, it is highly likely that what you’ve experienced is a trauma. Therapists sometimes refer to trauma as “little t trauma” and “big T trauma.” Little t traumas sometimes refers to events that usually don’t involve violence or disaster, but create significant distress. Big T traumas are typically events that are ongoing or sometimes major losses. These distinctions help validate individuals in that trauma is going to be different for everyone. Something that you might think of as a big T trauma might be a little t trauma to someone else.

It is incredibly important to see a professional to work through your trauma and process it - especially if you are experiencing any of the trauma symptoms whether they are physical or emotional. They can provide you with the tools to manage the symptoms that you’re experiencing and aid you in healing from those experiences.

Taylor Gaffney