When I first heard of the term ‘complex trauma’ and what it meant, a light bulb went off in my head. I was ecstatic! It explained so much about my own suffering and the suffering I was seeing in my clients. As therapists, we knew that trauma existed beyond PTSD, but it was shrouded in diagnoses like ‘Borderline Personality Disorder’, which pathologized our clients. But our clients aren’t problems, they’re people – with stories and explanations and insights and resilience!
So, if you’ve got some emotions and behaviors that you don’t understand and cause you frequent distress in a variety of areas in your life, keep reading.
Complex trauma is a deep and lasting form of hurt that can affect many parts of a person’s life. It’s different from other types of trauma because it happens over and over, often starting when someone is young. In this blog post, we’ll explore what complex trauma is, how it affects people, and ways to start healing.
Complex trauma happens when a person goes through many traumatic events over time. These events are usually:
Some examples of situations that can cause complex trauma are:
Complex trauma can impact almost every part of a person’s life. Here are some ways it might show up:
Healing from complex trauma is possible, but it takes time and support. Here are some steps that can help:
Remember: You’re Not Alone
If you’re dealing with complex trauma, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. More people than we realize have gone through similar experiences. It is not your fault that these things happened to you, and yet, only you can heal the wounds they created.
Healing from complex trauma is a journey. It might feel hard or scary at times, but with the right help and support, it is possible to find peace and build a life you feel good about. Take small steps, be kind to yourself, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you need it.
Learn More
If you’re interested in learning more about complex trauma, we welcome you to visit our Trauma Therapy Page.
If you’d like to reach out to us, you can click this link.
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