The majority of people will, at some point in their lives, experience a form of trauma. This is because trauma is remarkably complex and occurs in various ways, with differing degrees of severity, all of which make trauma more complex than it is commonly perceived to be. To make matters slightly more challenging, the way individuals respond to trauma can also change depending on several factors, such as their own mental well-being and lifestyle. 

Trauma can occur at any time in life, as a distressing or frightening event that has a significant impact on mental and physical health. It can even manifest long after the initial, triggering event occurs. Types of trauma include:

• Childhood trauma, occurring during childhood but potentially having significant effects later on in adulthood. You can read about the different types of childhood trauma’s otherwise known as ACE’s here.
• Generational trauma, is that which is passed on across generations and through families
• Collective trauma, affects groups of people who are impacted by the same traumatic event
• Moral trauma, occurs when individuals are made to significantly compromise their own ethics and beliefs
• Racial trauma, a complex experience relating to racial identity
• Secondary trauma, experiencing trauma through proximity to another

There are groups more likely to experience trauma, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, those who have served in the military, people of colour, and prisoners. Individuals who identify with such groups are also more likely to experience challenges when seeking to overcome associated symptoms and trauma, due to lack of support and discrimination. 

The experiences, or symptoms, of such traumas can present themselves in different ways. The effects are generally related to the body’s production of adrenaline and cortisol, which is a natural response to the sense of danger. This chemical production causes an individual to Fight, Freeze, Flop, Flight, or Fawn, a simplified categorisation that can help individuals recognise when they are experiencing the effects of trauma. 

• Fight, struggle or resisting
• Freeze, immobilisation or being unable to act
• Flop, becoming easily led, even against one’s will
• Flight, seeking sanctuary or fleeing
• Fawn, seeking affection or approval from those who cause harm

No matter how many months or years have passed, it is never too late for a person to begin recovering from trauma. While it can be difficult to, at first, discuss one’s trauma, entering into a safe and non-judgmental space to begin therapy can be one of the most effective ways of empowering individuals and, ultimately, overcoming the effects of trauma. 
If you would like to begin trauma counselling in Bristol, then please reach out to a member of our team by emailing hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk. To speak to us directly, please call 07751 271709.