When most people hear the word trauma, they picture something big—an accident, a disaster, or a violent event. And yes, those experiences can absolutely be traumatic. But trauma is bigger (and quieter) than that.

Trauma isn’t just what happened to you. It’s how your body, mind, and spirit were affected by what happened.

As Bessel van der Kolk, a pioneer in trauma healing, explains: trauma isn’t the event itself—it’s the imprint that event leaves in your body. Two people can go through the same situation, but carry it very differently. 

Not everyone who encounters a potentially traumatic event will develop trauma. The human spirit's resilience can manifest in diverse ways, allowing some to process and move beyond the experience without lasting impact.

Trauma happens when an experience overwhelms your ability to cope, and your body holds onto the stress long after the moment has passed.

The Different Types of Trauma

When we talk about trauma, it can manifest in various forms, each with its own unique characteristics and impacts. Trauma is not a one-size-fits-all experience; it can be as diverse as the individuals who endure it. Understanding the different types of trauma helps in recognizing how deeply it can affect one's life and well-being. From singular, shocking events to prolonged exposure to harmful environments, trauma can weave itself into the fabric of our lives in numerous ways. By exploring these different types, we can better comprehend the breadth and depth of trauma's impact, paving the way for more effective healing and support.

Acute trauma

• A single overwhelming event.
• Example: a car accident, sudden loss, natural disaster, or violent incident.

Chronic trauma

• Ongoing, repeated experiences of harm over time.
• Example: repeated abuse in childhood or adulthood, ongoing exposure to violence, or living in an unsafe environment.

Complex trauma

• Repeated and prolonged exposure to harmful or abusive interactions within significant relationships, where escape or safety is not possible.
• This often develops in childhood, in relationships where care and safety should have been present but weren’t. Complex trauma can leave a person struggling to feel safe in their body, regulate emotions, or stay connected to the present moment.

Structural trauma

• The harm created by larger systems and institutions.
• Example: racism, colonization, poverty, sexism, or displacement. This trauma shapes not just individuals, but entire communities and generations.

How Do You Know If You Might Be Carrying Trauma?

You don’t need a single dramatic event to “qualify.” Trauma can show up in the body and spirit in subtle ways, such as:

• Feeling drained or exhausted even after rest.
• Chronic pain, tension, or digestive issues without a clear medical explanation.
• Living in a constant state of anxiety, overwhelm, or “edge.”
• Numbness or shutdown—feeling disconnected from your body.
• Difficulty trusting, feeling safe in relationships, or feeling “at home” in yourself.

These aren’t labels or diagnoses. They’re simply common ways the body remembers what the mind may have tried to forget.

Trauma and Chronic Illness: The Hidden Connection

Research—and the lived experience of so many women—shows that trauma and chronic illness are often deeply connected. When trauma lives in the body, the nervous system can stay stuck in patterns of stress or shutdown. Over time, this constant state of survival can weaken the immune system, disrupt digestion, create chronic inflammation, and drain your energy.

This doesn’t mean your illness is “all in your head.” Far from it. It means your body may be carrying the weight of experiences that were never fully released. Understanding this link can open a new doorway to healing—one that doesn’t just treat symptoms, but also tends to the deeper wounds underneath.

The Different Pathways of Trauma Healing

There isn’t one single way to heal trauma. Different people find support in different ways—and often, healing is a journey that combines multiple forms of care.
Some of the most common paths include:

Therapy and Counseling

• Talking with a therapist trained in trauma can help you process experiences, find meaning, and learn tools to regulate emotions. Modalities like EMDR, somatic experiencing, or trauma-focused CBT can be especially supportive.

Medical and Psychiatric Support

• For some, working with a doctor or psychiatrist may be important to address trauma-related conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms.

Community and Relational Support

• Healing often happens in connection with others. This might mean joining a support group, leaning into spiritual community, or cultivating safe, nourishing relationships.

Body-Based and Somatic Practices

• Because trauma lives in the body, healing through the body can be deeply transformative. Gentle movement, breathwork, yoga, massage, acupuncture, Qigong, and mindful somatic practices help the nervous system release old patterns and reconnect to a sense of safety.

Spiritual and Ancestral Healing

• Many people find support through spiritual traditions, ritual, ancestral connection, or cultural practices that honor the soul as part of the healing journey.

Where My Work Fits In

The approach I share draws especially on mindful, trauma-informed somatic practices—because the body is often the place where trauma hides, and also the place where it can gently release.

Through breathwork, Qigong, acupressure, and guided mindful movement, I help women reconnect with their bodies in ways that feel safe and empowering. This isn’t about “reliving” trauma—it’s about giving your body the chance to exhale, reset, and remember its own wisdom.

Trauma healing has many doorways. Whether through therapy, medicine, community, spirituality, or body-based work, the most important thing is finding a path that feels safe and supportive for you. For those who feel ready to gently reconnect with the body, mindful somatic practices offer a powerful place to begin.