Over the past decade, trauma has become a more visible part of our collective conversation. We hear it more often on social media, from the people around us, and in therapy. But what exactly does trauma mean, and how does it show up in our lives? What are the different types of trauma, and how do they shape us in ways we may not always recognise?
Trauma is more than just an event—it’s a deep, physical response in our bodies to something disturbing or overwhelming. It’s how we feel it in our bones, in our heart, in the pit of our stomachs. The emotions it stirs up can come in waves, sometimes immediately, sometimes years later. It affects how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we move through the world.
For many of us, these impacts may not always be obvious—they show up in quiet ways, in patterns we can’t seem to shake or emotions we don’t fully understand. And yet, understanding the different types of trauma we might experience is the first step in reclaiming our bodies, our emotions, and our lives.
In this blog, we’ll explore 10 different types of trauma that can shape women like you—those of us navigating careers, relationships, and the deep work of self-discovery. By recognising these types, we can begin to heal, move forward, and reconnect with our bodies in ways that feel whole and powerful.
The Many Faces of Trauma: How Different Types Impact Us
Acute / Single Incident Trauma
Acute trauma results from a single, distressing event, such as a natural disaster, severe accident, violent assault, or witnessing a tragic incident. It often leads to intense stress responses, including shock, fear, and anxiety.
Attachment Trauma
Attachment trauma occurs when an individual experiences disruptions in their early interpersonal / attachment relationships, often involving a lack of attunement to the child’s feelings and needs, neglect, inconsistent caregiving, abandonment, abuse, or sexual abuse. It can significantly impact one’s ability to form secure relationships, trust others, regulate emotions, and develop a stable sense of self.
Chronic Trauma
Chronic trauma refers to repeated or prolonged exposure to highly stressful events, such as ongoing domestic violence, long-term childhood abuse, sexual abuse, living in a war zone, or enduring systemic discrimination. It can have long-term psychological and physical impacts.
Collective Trauma
This type of trauma impacts entire groups of people due to shared experiences of tragedy, such as natural disasters, terrorism, mass violence, or pandemics. Collective trauma can shape a community’s identity and cultural responses over generations.
Complex Trauma
Complex trauma arises from exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an interpersonal nature, typically occurring within specific contexts, such as childhood. It frequently involves betrayal or harm by a caregiver or trusted individual and may have cumulative impacts, affecting one’s ability to develop a stable sense of self.
Cultural Trauma
Cultural trauma occurs when individuals or groups experience a profound loss of their cultural identity, values, language, or practices due to factors such as colonisation, forced assimilation, systemic oppression, or erasure of cultural history. This affects First Nations peoples and other communities facing cultural suppression, leading to long-term struggles with cultural pride, discrimination, and alienation.
Developmental Trauma
This type of trauma occurs when children experience neglect, abuse, or lack a secure attachment during critical periods of development. Developmental trauma can significantly impact emotional regulation, attachment patterns, and cognitive functioning throughout a person’s life.
Medical Trauma
Medical trauma refers to distressing or life-threatening experiences within medical settings, such as severe illness, surgery, or prolonged hospitalisations. It’s important to note that many women who have conceived through IVF experience repetitive trauma both emotionally and to the body. Medical trauma can lead to anxiety, distrust of medical professionals, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Secondary or Vicarious Trauma
This form of trauma affects individuals exposed to the trauma of others, such as therapists, first responders, or caregivers. They may experience symptoms similar to those of trauma survivors due to repeated exposure to traumatic stories or events.
Soul Trauma
Soul trauma refers to deep, existential wounds that affect one’s sense of purpose, spiritual connection, or core identity. It can result from experiences that cause individuals to feel disconnected from their inner selves, such as profound loss, spiritual abuse, or crises of faith. This type of trauma can lead to feelings of emptiness, meaninglessness, or spiritual despair.
Transgenerational Trauma
Transgenerational trauma affects entire communities or generations due to traumatic events such as genocide, slavery, forced displacement, or colonisation. This trauma can be transmitted across generations, impacting descendants’ mental and physical health, social structures, and cultural identity.
Have you suffered trauma and wondering about which type of therapy is best for trauma? Check out this list of the best therapies for trauma.
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