COMPLEX TRAUMA is...
...the compound psychological and behavioural effects of multiple traumatic events starting with childhood and continuing throughout life
WHAT IS COMPLEX TRAUMA?
Complex trauma is the compound psychological effect of multiple traumatic events on a child or throughout life, ranging from adverse childhood experiences including high conflict personalities in divorce, to sexual assault and child trafficking, moral injuries, and includes forms of abuse and abuse-by-proxy.
These events are often of an invasive, interpersonal nature—and lead to wide-ranging and long-term negative health impacts. Complex trauma contributes to health and wellness challenges such as attachment disorders, nervous system symptoms, addictions, physical health issues, psychosomatic symptoms, some forms of cancer, and pervasive life-long mental health issues such as anger, anxiety, depression, complex PTSD and more. There are often thoughts of suicide and sometimes, where supports cannot be accessed, suicide can occur.
Complex trauma results not from a single event, but from series of stressful and threatening events distributed over time. Events occurring in adulthood can compound with events from childhood to cause changes in the sense of self, social withdrawal, and negatively impacts one's ability to function effectively in daily situations.
Complex trauma is not what happens to you, but rather the impact the events have on your body, nervous system, and emotions.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Complex Trauma may be the single largest issues facing our society today and few people have a grasp of the extent of the issue.
There is a growing awareness of trauma and complex trauma and yet there are still gaps in service. Many public health boards across Canada have extremely limited services. Many times patients are treated for discrete symptoms (anxiety) when a systems approach would yield better results. There is also overlap and lack of experience in critical areas including diagnosis and treatment of Complex PTSD.
It is a human issue and a systemic issue as well. At times government policy is done for economic or special interest reasons and not done for the overall health and well-being of people and families that our country is founded on.
The economic impact of complex trauma is not well enough understood. We know our institutions create trauma in our friends and families, and then our health care systems pay to treat this trauma. Reduction is economic output related to societal levels of trauma needs research in order to be properly understood, and treated effectively.
Given these systemic issues it is time that there is more public awareness of the issues of complex trauma and the far-reaching, inter-generational impacts that result.
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resources for parents and Kids Going Through Divorce or Separation
resources for parents and Kids Going Through Divorce or Separation
Do you have Complex Trauma? What's your ACE Score? Click the image below to find out.
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What's your ACE Score? Click Above to find out.
MISSION AND VISION
TRAUMA TIPS
Did you know???
Trauma Tip: Did you know that many trauma survivors are not ready to open up and talk about past traumas?
Trauma Tip: The traumas that many people experience are of such an intensity that they choose to supress them, rather than exploring their traumas. The experience of opening up their traumas frequently brings them back to an uncomfortable state; leaving that time in their lives behind and moving forward is often the preferred approach. This is one recognized way of dealing with past traumas and those who choose this approach should know they are choosing the best approach for them. They are not alone in this approach.
Trauma Tip: Childhood, Adolescent and Adult trauma can impact others.
This is often called Vicarious Trauma. Prior to sharing a difficult story, find out if the other person is able to listen. When sharing the story, check in from time to time and offer to stop if it's too much.
Trauma Tip: Traumatic Memories are tied to emotions. Trauma Survivors don't just remember a traumatic experience, we relive the emotions we had at the time. If it was a scary time, people can feel scared, sweat, and have hairs stand on end.
Trauma Tip: Not only do we relive traumatic memories, we relive happy memories too. If you're feeling blue, talk about or write about a happy time to evoke positive emotions.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Complex Trauma Canada has national, provincial and city based peer support groups and professional support networks which are here for you. We are building communities of people exactly like you who don't know where to turn.
Complex Trauma Canada has national, provincial and city based peer support groups and professional support networks which are here for you. We are building communities of people exactly like you who don't know where to turn.
We are here to help. What happened to you?
(Check all that apply)
Humiliation and Ridicule
Blackmail
Deprivation of Contact
Blaming / Scapegoating
Controlling
Intimidation
Harassment
Isolation
Sexual Abuse
Verbal Abuse
Coercive Control
Manipulation / Brainwashing
Spiritual / Religious
Being Threatened
Degradation
Other Trauma
Parental Alienation
False Allegations of DV
False Allegations of SA
Financial Abuse
Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Psychological Abuse / Gaslighting
Social Alienation / Social Abuse
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