“Trauma is the wound, not the event. We cannot undo events, but wounds can heal if we pay attention to them.”
— Lisa Krause

What is Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma develops when a person experiences prolonged stressful or traumatic events, often during childhood or adolescence.

These experiences can have a lasting impact on the nervous system, emotions, and the body. People with complex trauma often feel insecure, have difficulty trusting others, experience strong emotional fluctuations, and frequently suffer from physical complaints and pain.

Common symptoms of complex trauma may include:

  • Difficulty forming close, trusting relationships with others, often due to fear of being hurt or abandoned.

  • Struggling to manage or control intense emotions, which can lead to emotional outbursts or feeling overwhelmed.

  • A persistent feeling of not being good enough, unworthy, or inadequate in comparison to others.

  • Uncertainty about who you are, what you want in life, or how to define yourself.

  • A pattern of avoiding people, situations, or emotions that are difficult to deal with, often as a way of coping with trauma.

  • Relying on drugs, alcohol, or medications to cope with emotional pain or distress.

  • Deliberately injuring yourself as a way to release emotional pain, feel in control, or punish yourself.

  • Physical symptoms or health problems that medicine can't fully explain, related to the effects of chronic stress on the body:

    Chronic pain | Gastrointestinal issues | Headaches or migraines | Chronic fatigue or exhaustion | Autoimmune diseases | Cardiovascular diseases | Sleep disorders | Respiratory problems | Skin conditions | Hair loss | Hormonal dysregulation | Fibromyalgia

  • A state of heightened alertness, where potential threats or dangers are anticipated even in seemingly safe situations. This leads to constant inner tension, followed by phases of complete exhaustion, where one feels powerless and can only lie down for days. A cycle of overstimulation and total exhaustion.

  • "I can't really trust anyone; they'll disappoint me eventually."

    Attachment issues

  • "I always have to be on guard; something bad could happen at any moment."

    Chronic stress

  • "I don't feel anything anymore, no matter what happens."

    Emotional dysregulation

  • "Sometimes I explode over small things and don't know why I react that way."

    Emotional dysregulation

  • "My body always feels tense, but the doctors say they can't find anything wrong."

    Unexplained physical symptoms

  • "I feel so distant from my partner, but I don't know how to change that."

    Attachment issues


  • "I don't know who I really am or what I want in life."

    Low self-esteem

  • "Substances are the only thing that help me feel better, so I often turn to drugs, medication, or alcohol."

    Substance abuse

  • "I hurt myself because it's the only way I feel something and have control."

    Self-harm

  • "I don't know why I react so strongly, but I just can't control it."

    Emotional dysregulation

  • "I feel like I don't really know or understand myself."

    Impaired self-idenity

  • "Why can't I just relax? I feel like I'm always under pressure."

    Chronic tension

  • "I keep experiencing pain, but I don't know what's wrong."

    Unexplained physical symptoms

  • "Why should I open up? I don't need a relationship."

    Attachment issues

  • "I don't know what I want in life, and I constantly change my mind. It's overwhelming."

    Impaired self-idenity

  • "I feel like a ticking time bomb—I'll explode without warning, and then feel ashamed."

    Emotional dysregulation

  • "It feels like I'm invisible or worthless."

    Low self-esteem

  • "Why do I keep getting into relationships that aren't good for me?"

    Attachment issues

  • "Sometimes the anger and fear overwhelm me so much that I can't see a way out."

    Emotional dysregulation

  • "I'm sometimes so angry with myself that I hit myself. In those moments, I fear that I might impulsively take my own life, even though I don't really want to."

    Self-harm

  • "Who am I really? I feel like I'm always playing a role."

    Impaired self-identity

How Does Complex Trauma Develop?

Prolonged emotional stress and interpersonal disappointments can lead to complex trauma.

Here are some examples of the causes of trauma:

  • A parent regularly hits or pushes the child in response to "disobedience."

    The child is hit with objects or physically punished, resulting in visible injuries.

  • A child is regularly insulted and verbally abused, being told that they are worthless or not loved.

    A parent uses humiliation to exert control over the child and make them compliant.

  • An adult or older individual touches a child inappropriately or forces them into sexual activities.

    This includes any kind of sexual contact.

    It can involve physical acts, such as inappropriate touching, forcing the child into sexual behaviors, or attempting sexual intercourse with the child.

  • The child feels emotionally isolated and receives no love or affection. Parents show little interest in the child's emotional well-being or fail to support them with emotional needs.

    The child doesn't have enough to eat, wears unkempt clothing, and the parents are too preoccupied or not capable to take care of their physcial or emotional needs.

  • A parent or family member is emotionally and physically unavailable due to alcohol or drug abuse, causing the child to be neglected and grow up in an unsafe environment.

  • A caretaker suffers from depression or other mental illnesses and is therefore unable to properly care for the child.

    A family member attempts suicide, leaving the child with a deep sense of insecurity and fear.

  • The child experiences the divorce of their parents, the death of a parent, or is placed in foster care by child protective services.

    They grow up without a parent who has either left the home or is in prison, which puts significant strain on the family structure.

  • One of the child's parents is regularly hit, kicked, or threatened by their partner.

    The child witnesses domestic violence, where one parent is severely abused.

Receive Support to Confront Your Trauma

If what you're reading here makes you suspect that your symptoms might be related to trauma and you're seeking long-term professional support, I offer you a safe space to gently uncover and process these experiences, and accompany you on your healing journey. Together, we will address your issues at your own pace to enable sustainable and profound change.

If you're ready, I look forward to hearing from you for an initial conversation to see if we’re a good fit. I’d be happy to support you on your journey.