Trauma is a huge subject to tackle and we are each likely to have a completely unique experience of what has been traumatic for us, and in what ways our trauma has impacted us.

I have been particularly moved by Gabor Mate’s idea of differentiating between what he calls Little T’s and Big T’s, because this helps to create a greater understanding of how impactful trauma can be. If we can acknowledge that each of us has experienced trauma to differing degrees, we may be better able to respond to the more serious and debilitating impact of trauma on our lives.

What trauma does is a create sense that something that has happened to us in the past, triggers negative responses in us, in the present. These senses are not always conscious and they are certainly not always obviously linked to past experiences.

In more serious cases, working with trauma can be complicated and it takes time. Often we have developed unconscious ways to manage or even ignore the impact of trauma. So it can be about getting to know the negative patterns of behaviour that we have adopted in order to defend or protect ourselves against perceived harm. It can be particularly hard to recognise that we may have adopted behaviours that are harmful, when we thought they were protecting us.

I recently came across Carolyn Spring. She is a powerful author, trainer and trauma survivor. Her website offers support, knowledge and advice for coping with trauma, much of which is free of charge.