In recent years, there has been a welcome shift in how we talk about trauma. Once associated only with soldiers or victims of major disasters, trauma is now recognised as something that can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance. But while awareness is growing, many people still feel confused about what psychological trauma really is, how it shows up, and what recovery looks like.

At MyLife Psychologists, we regularly support clients who are struggling with the effects of trauma – some of whom don’t even realise that their experiences “count” as trauma. This blog will explore what trauma is, the many ways it can affect your mental and physical health, and how therapy can support healing.

What is Psychological Trauma?

Psychological trauma occurs when a person experiences an event – or a series of events – that overwhelms their ability to cope. These events can threaten your sense of safety, identity, control, or trust in others. Trauma is not defined solely by what happened, but by how it impacts you emotionally and physiologically.

Some people develop trauma symptoms after a single event, such as a car accident or assault. Others may experience trauma after prolonged exposure to adversity – like childhood neglect, domestic violence, or bullying. This is often referred to as complex trauma.

 

Types of Trauma

Understanding different types of trauma can help clarify why responses vary so widely.

  1. Acute trauma: This results from a single overwhelming event, such as:
    • A car crash
    • A natural disaster
    • A robbery or physical attack
  1. Chronic trauma: Occurs when someone is exposed to repeated, ongoing stressors over time, such as:
    • Childhood emotional neglect
    • Domestic and family violence
    • Ongoing workplace bullying
  1. Complex trauma: Involves multiple or prolonged traumatic events, often interpersonal and beginning in childhood. Examples include:
    • Growing up in a household with addiction or mental illness
    • Childhood abuse or abandonment
    • Emotional invalidation or inconsistent caregiving
  1. Vicarious trauma: Happens when individuals are exposed to the trauma of others, often through their work (e.g. first responders, therapists, nurses).

 

How Trauma Affects the Brain and Body

Trauma changes how the brain perceives and reacts to the world. When you’re exposed to threat, your brain’s fight-flight-freeze response is activated to keep you safe. But in trauma, this system becomes dysregulated. Your brain can remain stuck in survival mode long after the danger has passed.

Key brain areas impacted by trauma include:

  • Amygdala: Becomes hyperactive, making you more sensitive to perceived threats.
  • Hippocampus: Involved in memory; trauma can disrupt how memories are stored, leading to flashbacks.
  • Prefrontal cortex: Responsible for reasoning and emotional regulation. Trauma can impair its functioning, making it harder to manage emotions.

This neurological disruption explains why trauma is not “just in your head.” It’s a whole-body experience.

trauma therapy

Common Signs and Symptoms of Trauma

Trauma affects everyone differently, but symptoms often fall into emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioural categories.

Emotional symptoms

  • Feeling anxious, fearful, or constantly on edge
  • Mood swings or emotional numbness
  • Guilt, shame, or self-blame
  • Feeling disconnected from others

Cognitive symptoms

  • Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
  • Nightmares or disturbed sleep
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory problems

Physical symptoms

  • Fatigue and exhaustion
  • Headaches, muscle tension, or gastrointestinal issues
  • Racing heart or shallow breathing
  • Sleep difficulties

Behavioural symptoms

  • Avoiding reminders of the trauma
  • Social withdrawal or isolation
  • Substance use to cope
  • Difficulty trusting others

These symptoms can emerge immediately or take years to surface. Many people don’t realise their struggles are linked to past trauma.

 

Long-Term Impact of Untreated Trauma

If left unaddressed, trauma can significantly affect every area of life. It can increase the risk of:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex PTSD (CPTSD)
  • Alcohol and substance use issues
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Chronic health conditions (e.g. autoimmune disease, chronic pain)

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, one of the largest investigations into early trauma, found that exposure to childhood adversity is strongly linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood.

 

How Trauma Affects Relationships

Trauma doesn’t only affect how we feel – it affects how we relate to others.

You might:

  • Struggle to feel safe or trust others
  • Be hypersensitive to rejection or criticism
  • Feel overwhelmed in intimate relationships
  • Avoid closeness out of fear of being hurt

These reactions are understandable. When trauma is relational in nature (as with childhood abuse or neglect), it can distort our internal sense of self-worth and our expectations of others. Therapy can help gently repair these wounds in the context of a safe, supportive relationship.

 

Why Some People Develop Trauma Symptoms and Others Don’t

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops lasting symptoms. Factors that influence how someone is affected include:

  • The nature and duration of the trauma
  • Whether it occurred in childhood
  • Availability of emotional support
  • Prior history of trauma
  • Personality and coping styles
  • Biological and genetic factors

Importantly, trauma is not a sign of weakness. It’s a human response to overwhelm.

trauma therapy

How Therapy Can Help With Trauma

Healing from trauma is possible. Therapy offers a space to process your experiences, understand how they’ve shaped you, and learn tools to regulate your emotions and rebuild your sense of self.

At MyLife Psychologists, we take a trauma-informed approach to care. That means we:

  • Prioritise your emotional and physical safety
  • Avoid re-traumatisation
  • Respect your pace and readiness
  • Collaborate with you every step of the way

 

Evidence-based Trauma Therapies We Offer

  1. Schema Therapy: Helps you understand long-standing patterns that developed in response to early life experiences. It’s particularly effective for complex trauma.
  2. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): Assists in identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours related to trauma.
  3. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): Uses bilateral stimulation to help reprocess distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity.
  4. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focuses on accepting painful thoughts and emotions while living in line with your values.
  5. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Useful for trauma survivors who struggle with intense emotions and self-harm. DBT offers skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
  6. Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how trauma, especially relational or developmental trauma, influences current relationships, self-perception, and emotional responses.

 

What Does Trauma Recovery Look Like?

Trauma recovery is not linear. There may be progress, setbacks, and moments of feeling stuck. But with the right support, people often report:

  • A stronger sense of self
  • Improved relationships
  • Reduced anxiety and shame
  • Increased capacity to manage stress
  • Greater emotional resilience

You don’t have to have all the answers before starting therapy. You just need to be willing to take the first step.

 

Final thoughts

Many people live with the effects of trauma for years without recognising it. They may think they’re just “too sensitive,” “overreacting,” or “broken.” But trauma can affect anyone – and it’s not something you have to carry alone.

At MyLife Psychologists, we’re here to help you make sense of what’s happened, reconnect with your strengths, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

Ready to take the first step?

Get in touch – we offer a free 15-minute consultation with our Care Coordinator to help you find the right psychologist for your needs. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just curious about how therapy might help, we’re here to support you.

 

Resources

Blue Knot Helpline:| https://blueknot.org.au

MindSpot Trauma Course (free online): https://www.mindspot.org.au

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au

1800RESPECT: https://www.1800respect.org.au

References 

Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.

Phoenix Australia: Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health. (2023). https://www.phoenixaustralia.org

Australian Psychological Society (APS). Trauma and Psychology. https://psychology.org.au

Blue Knot Foundation. Understanding Complex Trauma. https://www.blueknot.org.au

SAMHSA (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach.
https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/userfiles/files/SAMHSA_Trauma.pdf

Felitti, V. J., et al. (1998). Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258.