Trauma Recovery
What Is Trauma?
Trauma isn’t defined by the external event itself—it’s the internal reaction to an experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. It can evoke intense emotions such as fear, helplessness, rejection, betrayal, and emotional or physical pain. Trauma is deeply personal and subjective; what feels traumatic to one person may not affect another in the same way.
Importantly, trauma often stems from not being seen, heard, or validated, especially in early childhood. When emotional needs go unmet, it can impact your sense of self and your ability to fully experience and express emotions.
Trauma is not just psychological—it’s stored in the body, embedded in the nervous system. As Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score, the body remembers what the mind may try to forget. Whether you experience trauma directly or witness it happening to someone else, your body can respond in similar ways.
How Can I Recognise Trauma Symptoms?
Trauma can manifest in various ways, both physically and emotionally. It's essential to recognise these signs to seek appropriate support and healing.
Some signs and symptoms include:
Emotional & Psychological Signs:
- Intense fear, anxiety, or panic
- Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
- Mood swings or irritability
- Guilt, shame, or self-blame
- Emotional numbness or detachment
Cognitive Symptoms:
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks of the event
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Nightmares or recurring distressing dreams
- Confusion or feeling “spaced out”
- Persistent negative thoughts about self or the world
Physical Symptoms:
- Trouble sleeping or insomnia
- Increased heart rate or rapid breathing
- Muscle tension, aches, or headaches
- Fatigue or low energy
- Being easily startled
Types Of Trauma
Developmental Trauma
The result of abandonment, abuse, neglect or serious illness, birth difficulties or complications experienced between 0-3 years of age, which disrupts cognitive, neurological, and psychological development, and attachment to adult caregivers.
Childhood Trauma
Is experienced in childhood (prior to 18 years of age based on ACE research) and includes household dysfunction, including divorce, parental separation, mental illness, incarceration of a relative, violent treatment of the mother, and substance abuse.
Physical Trauma
Such as bodily wounding or shock, accidents, experiencing physical abuse, disease, sickness, hospitalisation, surgery, physical neglect, and assault.
Sexual Trauma
Relating to various experiences of sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, and being taken advantage of in some way.
Emotional Trauma
Including emotional abuse, emotional neglect, bullying, harassment, abandonment, rejection, invalidation, racial and discrimination trauma, workplace bullying and harassment, anxiety-related disorders, and panic attacks.
Relational Trauma
Which occurs in one’s family or origin.
Psychological Trauma
Including work burnout, work stress, and financial strain or stress.
Grief and Loss
Including the experience of loss related to the death of a loved one, death of a pet, abortions, adoptions, abandonment, divorce, the ending of a relationship, end of employment, retirement, and financial loss.
War Trauma
Including acts of terrorism and extreme violence.
Incarceration Trauma
Trauma related to being in jail and associated experiences.
Natural Disasters
Related to experiencing floods, bush fires, cyclones, and hurricanes.
Phobias
Such as phobias related to heights, confined spaces, spiders, nighttime, or being alone.
Cumulative Trauma
Relating to ongoing, long term, “Small T” traumas (see below).
Transgenerational Trauma
Which occurs from generation to generation in a family system.
First-Responder Trauma
Related to police, ambulance, emergency medical staff, and firefighters.
Types of Trauma: “Big T” and “Little T”
Trauma is often categorized into two broad types: “Big T” trauma and “Little t” trauma. Both can have a significant impact on a person’s emotional well-being, even if they differ in intensity and context.
"Little T" Trauma
These are distressing experiences that don’t involve a direct threat to one’s life or physical safety, but can still deeply affect emotional health and quality of life. When left unprocessed, they can lead to long-term stress and emotional difficulties.
Examples include:
- Divorce or relationship breakdowns
- Losing a job or financial instability
- Moving to a new home or school
- Infidelity or betrayal
- Ongoing work-related stress
- Legal issues
"Big T" Trauma
Also referred to as shock trauma, these are events that involve intense fear, helplessness, or a direct threat to life or safety. They often overwhelm the nervous system and can lead to conditions like PTSD.
Examples include:
- Natural disasters
- Serious car accidents
- Acts of terrorism or war
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Domestic violence
Dissociation and the Concept of “Parts”
We often refer to our internal “parts” in everyday language without even realising it. For example, we might say, “Part of me wants to go out with friends, but another part just wants to stay home.” Or we might talk about our “inner child” or “inner critic.” These expressions reflect the natural complexity of our inner world.
From a trauma-informed perspective, when someone experiences something overwhelming—beyond what their nervous system can handle—they may dissociate. This means the mind separates or “splits” into different parts to protect itself from the pain. Dissociation is a powerful defence mechanism that helps the system survive traumatic experiences.
Just like trauma, dissociation exists on a spectrum. It can range from mild emotional separation to more extreme fragmentation of identity. In severe cases, this can develop into Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)—formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder—where distinct identities or “parts” emerge to manage different aspects of the trauma (Van der Hart, Nijenhuis, & Solomon, 2010).
Van der Hart, O, Nijenhuis, ERS, Solomon, R (2010). Dissociation of the personality in complex trauma-related disorders and EMDR: theoretical considerations. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research 4, 76–92.
Common Signs of Dissociation
- Feeling like time is missing or unaccounted for
- Confusion or disorientation
- Shifts between distinct personalities or “alters”
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Memory gaps
Book Appointment
You’re welcome to book an appointment directly — no referral is required. However, if you wish to access the Medicare rebate, a referral from a GP or Psychiatrist is necessary. Referrals are also required for third party organisations such as ADF, DVA, and QPS (self-refer program).
