Trauma, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Trauma isn’t always easy to see, especially for the person living with it. Trauma doesn’t just come from “big” experiences like going to war. Any experience that was “too much,” “too soon,” or with “too little” support can have a lasting impact. We can also develop trauma from experiences we didn’t have—times we felt alone, unsupported, or unseen. 

You might feel like you keep “overreacting” to comments, experiences, or sensations that remind you of the past. You might feel disconnected from your experience in general, going through life on autopilot or shutting down in times of stress. Or you might wonder how you ended up being the “adult” in the room, when you still feel like a much younger version of yourself, looking around for a “grown-up” to handle things. Whatever trauma looks like for you, you are not broken. You don’t have to stay stuck in the same pain or the same patterns that have helped you survive. Sharing what you’re experiencing with a therapist can be a first step in finding new ways to relate to yourself, the experiences you’ve had, and your life now.