The 3 Major Types of Trauma
Research into effective methods for treating trauma has evolved alongside the identification of different types of trauma and our burgeoning understanding of how those traumatic experiences impact our brains and bodies (Maté, 2023). Where our notion of trauma in the psychological realm used to be limited to single event, acute, and life threatening events, further research has explored traumatic experiences more broadly to include individual experiences, interpersonal experiences, and collective/structural experiences (Grossman et al., 2021; Spinazzola et al., 2021). Individual traumatic events, such as work-related accidents or physical attack, can contribute to the development of symptoms which impact behavior, cognition, emotions, and neurological functioning (Banes, 2023; Grossman et al., 2021). It is common for individuals who have experienced these kinds of traumatic events to experience symptoms associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, such as disturbances in sleep, persistent and exaggerated negative view of self, avoidance of thoughts and locations which may remind the individual of the traumatic event, anxiety, and depression (Spinazzola et al., 2021). It is believed that these symptoms may be caused by the brain remembering the damage caused by the traumatic event in the past and applying that same level of threat to experiences that are happening in the client’s current life (Lewis et al., 2020). To help address these symptoms, a variety of different therapeutic approaches have been developed which help the client to identify strategies they can use to regulate their nervous systems when their brains are experiencing unnecessarily levels of activation and thereby reduce the impact of their symptoms (Lewis et al., 2020). Examples of these therapist include Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Trauma Focused Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Lewis et al., 2020).
Interpersonal trauma, such as childhood abuse/neglect or sexual assault, can also lead to symptoms which impair a person’s ability to function independently (Spinazzola et al., 2021). Traumatic experiences which involve other people can have far reaching effects on the lives of those effected such that personal, romantic, and sexual relationships are negatively impacted (Spinazzola et al., 2021; Cai et al., 2023). Experiences of childhood trauma, in particular, can impact development and functioning in areas of the brain which are responsible for language, self-concept, and emotional formation and regulation (Cai et al., 2023; Maté, 2023). This kind of trauma often occurs across longer periods of time which can reinforce patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are maladaptive and contribute to the development of more severe mental health diagnoses like personality disorders and mood disorders (Lewis et al., 2020; Spinazzola et al., 2021).
Collective/structural trauma refers to more general experiences of trauma and stress which are experienced by minority groups or those who are discriminated against because of their gender, race, economic status, or sexuality (Grossman et al., 2021; Maté, 2023). Many of these groups experience more frequent and intense levels of individual and interpersonal trauma which are directly related to their minority status (Grossman et al., 2021). Systems of oppression, such as structural racism and compulsive heteronormativity, inform the practices which result in traumatic experiences for those not in the majority (Grossman et al., 2021). As a result, symptoms related to difficulties with life transitions, negative self-appraisal, and avolition can develop (Grossman et al., 2021; Maté, 2023).
All of these types of stress can lead to high levels of toxic or chronic stress which is believed to negatively impact health outcomes (Grossman et al., 2021; Maté, 2023). At a biological and physiological level, existing in an environment that is chronically or toxically stressful increased the frequency of activation of hormones in our body and our nervous system, often without the chance for rest or recovery (Maté, 2023). This level of activation limits our ability to function, which has a global effect on the functioning of our organs and bodily systems (Maté, 2023). People who are unhealthy in this way also tend to function less effectively and efficiently in the social and cultural sphere as well- which has the potentially to negatively impact larger communities as well (Maté, 2023).
References
Cai, J., Li, J., Liu, D., Gao, S., Zhao, Y., Zhang, J., & Liu, Q. (2023). Long-term effects of childhood trauma subtypes on adult brain function. Brain and behavior, 13(5), e2981. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2981
Grossman, S., Cooper, Z., Buxton, H., Hendrickson, S., Lewis-O'Connor, A., Stevens, J., Wong, L. Y., & Bonne, S. (2021). Trauma-informed care: recognizing and resisting re-traumatization in health care. Trauma surgery & acute care open, 6(1), e000815. https://doi.org/10.1136/tsaco-2021-000815
Lewis, C., Roberts, P. N., Andrew, M., Starling, E., & Bisson, I. J. (2020) Psychological therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis, European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11:1, DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1729633
Maté, G. (2023). The Myth of Normal. Random House UK.
Spinazzola, J., van der Kolk, B., & Ford, J. D. (2021). Developmental trauma disorder: A legacy of attachment trauma in victimized children. Journal of traumatic stress, 34(4), 711–720. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22697