types of trauma

Shock Trauma will more often be a singular event such as witnessing injury or death or facing imminent threat of injury or death. A person experiencing a shock trauma may feel horror, helplessness and terror. 

Developmental trauma is generally a chronic trauma that occurs repeatedly such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, childhood neglect, domestic violence or bullying. These repetitive behaviors occurring over time end up being a part of one’s experience of the world, coloring how they see, experience, and live in the world. These types of traumas effect the “development,” of a person’s sense of self and sense of others.

In either Shock or Developmental Trauma a child, teenager or adult may have enough resiliency and enough “good” connections to be able to stay regulated through stresses of daily life. However, these events may lead to intense distress, overwhelming one’s ability to cope. The individual may experience sleep difficulty, attention difficulty, anger and irritability, intrusive thoughts, withdrawal, or distress when reminded of their experience. As noted by the national child traumatic stress network, “Trauma can lead to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and a variety of behavioral disorders.” The developing brain and nervous system can be effected by repeated or singular trauma, leading to difficulty with regulation/dysregulation systems. Individuals can be effected in ongoing family and peer relationships.