Trauma

Understanding Trauma

Trauma is not only defined by an event, but by how that event is experienced and processed by the individual. What may be overwhelming or distressing for one person may not be experienced in the same way by another. What can be overlooked at one time may not be possible for another – and indeed, should not be.

What is common for all trauma experiences is that they demand to be called what they are – whether small t or big T, which is a colloquial way of talking about severity in trauma, trauma is trauma. All trauma counts, and all of it leaves an indelible impact on the body, mind, and soul of the individual.

At its core, trauma involves an experience that exceeds one’s capacity to cope at that moment. This can leave a lasting impact on how the individual perceives themselves, others, and the world around them. Trauma may arise from a single event, or from repeated experiences over time. It can be linked to relationships, environments, or circumstances that felt unsafe, unpredictable, or overwhelming.

Trauma Presentation

The impact of trauma can be both psychological and physical, often showing up in ways that are not immediately recognised as being connected to past experiences.

Some common experiences may include:

• Persistent feelings of fear or unease
• Heightened sensitivity to certain situations or triggers
• Emotional numbness or detachment
• Difficulty trusting others
• Recurrent thoughts or memories
• A sense of being overwhelmed or unable to cope
• Physical symptoms such as tension, fatigue, or restlessness

Trauma can also influence how individuals relate to themselves – affecting self-esteem, identity, and the ability to feel safe within one’s own experience.

Trauma & the Nervous System

Trauma has a significant impact on the nervous system. The body may remain in a state of heightened alertness, even when there is no immediate threat. This can result in patterns of hypervigilance, anxiety, or shutdown responses.

The nervous system may oscillate between states of activation and withdrawal, making it difficult to feel settled or at ease. These responses are not conscious choices, but are adaptive mechanisms that the body has developed in response to past experiences.

The individual who does not know they have been a trauma victim is in even more difficulty because they have no idea how this intersects between the body and the mind. The impact on the nervous system is a systemic numbing, where even the beginnings of the links are not made at the psychobiological level.

“Trauma cannot be encapsulated in words, no matter how erudite we are. In short, trauma is trauma. The lived experience can only be really known to those who have experienced it.”

How Therapy Can Help

Therapy provides a space where trauma can be approached with care, pacing, and sensitivity. The focus is not on reliving or re-experiencing trauma, but on gradually building awareness, safety, and stability in the present moment.

The focus may be on psycho-educating you and making you gently aware that the ‘thing’ you have been feeling is mostly your traumatic experience. This realisation can first be devastating and then liberating.

In Gestalt therapy, attention is given to the individual’s current experience, allowing them to explore what feels accessible and manageable. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a space where trust and safety can begin to develop. Through this process, individuals can begin to understand their responses, recognise triggers, and develop a greater sense of agency in how they relate to their experience.

Working Through Trauma

Working with trauma is a gradual process. It involves developing the capacity to stay present with one’s experience without becoming overwhelmed. This may include recognising bodily responses, understanding emotional patterns, and building internal resources.

There is no fixed timeline for this process. Everyone’s experience is unique, and the work unfolds at a pace that feels appropriate and supportive. The gentler, softer, and more mindful the pace, the more the individual is likely to feel some capacity to open themselves up to the conversation about trauma and reconnecting with what happened to them.

Moving Towards Integration

As awareness and safety increase, individuals often begin to experience a greater sense of integration. This does not mean that past experiences are erased, but that they no longer hold the same intensity or influence over present life. Integration allows for a more cohesive sense of self, where past and present experiences can coexist without overwhelming the individual.

You may also integrate within yourself, but still feel residual emotions that could involve strong feelings towards the people, situations, and circumstances that have been at the heart of your trauma experience. Deeper integration may need to look at themes of forgiveness, letting go, and perceptual conversations – not in real life, but in the creative and imagined reality that the therapy space can provide.

Start small but start soon. Start slowly but start strong. You will receive a trauma-informed, empathic, supportive space that is yours alone to explore, and the capacity to build your reserves together in a way that empowers you towards integration.

Self-Help: Reading & Resources on Trauma

• The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk
• Healing Trauma – Peter Levine
• When the Body Says No – Dr. Gabor Maté