Many folks are familiar with the kind of trauma referred to as “shock trauma.” This is the classic terrible-event-occurred and now the individual is suffering symptoms because of what happened. We call it “shock” because it is a shock to the nervous system. It can result in classic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of things that remind one of the event, hypervigilance, mood issues, etc.
But there is another kind of trauma known as developmental, or complex, trauma. Sadly, this kind of trauma doesn’t even have official recognition in the most modern version of the American psychological diagnostic manual (DSM-V). But therapists certainly know better! We see clients who deal with this all the time. It is complex trauma because the thing that occurred was often ongoing — no one specific event to think back on. The person has usually experienced multiple sources of trauma. And what really complicates matters is that it is often even pre-verbal: occurring before a person has language or ability to consolidate memories to recall them explicitly later. READ MORE…
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