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You are in the right place. By understanding and affirming your experiences – and the way your body currently responds – you can begin to build a foundation for healing that is grounded in truth and hope that your story is not over.

This page sets the foundation for everything else you will read at NeuroHope. Here, we will look at what trauma actually is, the different types of trauma, and why understanding it matters for healing.

You have probably heard the word “trauma” used in many different ways – on social media, in conversations, and in the news. People describe trauma differently based on their unique experiences. My goal is to provide clarity to help you understand your own story.

What is trauma?

Researchers often describe trauma using the “Three E’s”: Event, Experience, and Effects. 

Event – A physically or emotionally harmful, life-threatening, or life-changing situation (or series of situations). 
Experience – The way the person lives through the event. The event is experienced as overwhelming, exceeding the person’s ability to process, cope, or find support. 
Effects – The impact that lingers after the event itself has passed, affecting mental, emotional, physical, social, or spiritual well-being. 

According to this widely used framework, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma is not described by the event alone. It is defined by how that event is experienced and how it affects an individual over time. This is why two people can undergo the same experience, but only one may develop a lasting trauma response. It is not because one is “stronger” and the other is “weaker.” Their histories, supports, and nervous systems are simply different. 

Trauma is more common than most people realize. It is not reserved for soldiers or survivors of catastrophic events. Studies consistently suggest that about 70% of adults worldwide experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, yet only 6.8% of U.S. adults develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That does not mean everyone else is “fine” or that your response is “wrong.” Trauma’s effects can show up in quieter, subtler ways: trouble sleeping, difficulty trusting others, going numb, or feeling disconnected from yourself.

Every response deserves to be taken seriously. The variety of trauma responses simply points to the personal nature of trauma. It is shaped by several factors unique to you: age, support system, prior experiences, biology, and the context surrounding the event.

The three types of trauma

Trauma researchers often group experiences into three broad categories, based on the event’s frequency and duration and the relationships involved. These categories are not rigid boxes, but they can help you find language for your own story.

1 Acute Trauma

• Stems from a single, distressing event, such as a car accident, natural disaster, assault, or medical emergency. 
• The event is discrete – has a clear beginning and end – but its impact can linger. 
• Lasting effects include intrusive memories, heightened anxiety, sleep disturbances, or avoiding reminders of the event.

2 Chronic Trauma

• Develops from repeated or prolonged exposure to harmful or distressing experiences – for example, ongoing domestic violence, sustained bullying, community violence, or living through war. 
• Because the threat repeatedly returns, the nervous system does not have time to fully reset between events. 
• Over time, this can lead to deeper psychological effects such as persistent anxiety or depression, hypervigilance, and emotional numbing.

3 Complex Trauma

• Arises when trauma is repeated, long-term, interpersonal (occurring within relationships), and often begins in early life. 
• Examples include childhood abuse or neglect, ongoing intimate partner violence, or trafficking. 
• These experiences often occur in close relationships and during developmental years, when a child is forming their sense of self, safety, and how relationships work.
• The “complexity” of this kind of trauma increases when events are repeated, intentional, morally transgressive, and stretch across multiple stages of development.

In real life, experiences do not always fit neatly into one box. Trauma exists along a continuum, and some situations overlap categories. Even so, these distinctions matter for one important reason: different forms of trauma often require different paths to healing. Naming the type of trauma you or someone you love has experienced can be an important step in understanding what kind of support might be most helpful.

A Word for Survivors

As we continue to explore trauma and its effects on the brain and body (in later posts), there is a truth we will come back to again and again: 
Trauma is not a weakness. It is not a character flaw. It is not something you should “just get over.” 

Trauma is a real, measurable response to overwhelming experiences. It can change how your brain works, how your body responds, and how safe the world feels. None of that means you are broken beyond repair. It means your nervous system did its best to survive something that was too much. 

If you are reading this, you have already taken a brave step. It is no small thing to look closely at what you have lived through and how it has affected you. That takes courage. 

Thank you for letting yourself learn about what trauma is – and for letting yourself know that you are not alone in carrying it. I am honored to walk with you, through these words, as you take your next steps.  

In upcoming posts, we will explore how trauma reshapes the brain, how it lives in the body, and what emerging neuroscience and trauma-informed practices can teach us about healing.

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You are not “too much.” You are not “too broken.” Your story is not over.