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This resource from Talkspace gives a more detailed explaination of different types of trauma.

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What Are the Different Types of Trauma?

When we think of psychological trauma, we often think of a single event that causes great harm or pain. However, different types of traumas can occur throughout our lives. Trauma isn't limited to physical events; it can also be emotional or psychological in nature. Some common trauma symptoms can include:

Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the traumatic event

Nightmares about the event

Avoidance of people, places, things, or situations that remind you of the event

Feeling numb or disconnected from others

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability

Hypervigilance

Confusion

Exhaustion

Agitation

Sadness

Anxiety

Dissociation

Chronic pain

Difficulty sleeping

Angry outbursts

Depression

Substance abuse

Self-harming behaviors

Suicidal thoughts or attempts

Believing the world is a dangerous place and that you can't trust anyone

Feeling unable to experience pleasure

"Trauma can be caused by various situations ranging from natural disasters to abuse, vehicle accidents, and more."
- Talkspace therapist Ashley Ertel, LCSW, BCD, C-DBT

While most people are familiar with the concept of trauma, many are unaware of the different types of trauma that exist. Trauma can be classified as acute, chronic, or complex.

1. Acute trauma

Acute trauma is a psychological trauma that occurs in response to a single, highly stressful event. For example, it can come after experiencing a natural disaster, seeing a bad car accident, or witnessing violence. Acute trauma can lead to long-term mental health problems if not appropriately addressed.

Examples of acute trauma

Acute trauma can come from a single event threatening your life or safety. It can also result from an act of violence against you or after witnessing a traumatic event happening to someone else.

This type of trauma can lead to acute stress disorder (ASD), which is a mental health condition typically appearing within 3 days of a traumatizing event and lasting up to 1 month.

2. Chronic trauma

Chronic trauma is a response to ongoing or repeated traumatic experiences. It differs from acute trauma in this sense, as acute trauma occurs after just one traumatic experience or event.

Examples of chronic trauma

Chronic trauma can result from any of the following:

Physical abuse: Physical abusers often use force to control their victims. They may hit, kick, choke, or throw things at them - the list goes on. It's common for physical abusers to threaten their victims and use fear and intimidation to control them.

Sexual abuse: Sexual abusers often take advantage of people who are weaker than they are. They may be in a position of power over their victim, making it easier for them to coerce or force them into sexual acts. Victims of sexual abuse often suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sometimes even long after the initial event occurred.

Emotional abuse: Emotional abusers try to chip away at self-esteem by putting their victims down constantly or making them feel bad about themselves.

Domestic violence: Domestic violence can cause chronic trauma. It's not always physical abuse either - mental and emotional torture can be just as debilitating. Domestic violence targets every aspect of a person's life to control them. It leaves long-term scars that can be difficult to deal with for years after the abuse has stopped.

Poverty: Growing up in poverty can result in chronic trauma. Children who grow up below the poverty line are more likely to see violence, witness drug use, and not have enough food or adequate shelter. This can lead to lasting effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more.

3. Complex trauma

Complex trauma is a type of stress similar to generational trauma that can occur when someone experiences multiple, chronic, or prolonged exposure to traumatizing events. It can happen to both children and adults. However, complex traumas like abandonment trauma, for example, are more common among those who experienced abuse or neglect during childhood.

Complex trauma can cause long-term problems with physical and mental health. Forming and maintaining healthy relationships can also be very isolating and challenging.

Examples of complex trauma

Complex trauma can harm mental and physical health due to repeated, continued traumatization. It can be the result of things like:

Childhood abuse or neglect

Domestic violence

Sexual assault

War-related experiences

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The Different Types of Trauma Explained - Talkspace

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When we think of psychological trauma, we often think of a single event that causes great harm or pain. However, different types of traumas can occur throughout our lives. Trauma isn't limited to physical events; it can also be emotional or psychological in nature.

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This website goes over different levels of trauma as well as secondary trauma.

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Trauma can be experienced in a number of different settings. Settings might include home life, at school, the work place, in the wider community or in a war zone.

Whether an event is deemed traumatic is defined by the 'subjective experience' of it rather than the event itself.

We have provided a breakdown of experiences which might typify a traumatic experience.

There are two main categories of trauma. Types 1 and type 2.

Type 1 Trauma

Type 1 refers to single-incident traumas which are unexpected and come out of the blue. They can be referred to as big T trauma, shock or acute trauma. A condition related to big T trauma or Type 1 trauma is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Examples of type 1 trauma might include:

Severe illness or injury

Violent assault

Sexual assault

Traumatic loss

Mugging or robbery

Being a victim of or witness to violence

Witnessing a terrorist attack

Witnessing a natural disaster

Road accident

Military combat incident

Hospitalisation

Psychiatric hospitalisation

Childbirth

Medical trauma

Post suicide attempt trauma

Life threatening illness or diagnosis

Type 2 Trauma

Complex trauma describes trauma which may have been experienced as part of childhood or early stages of development.

Repetitive trauma refers to trauma which has been repeated over a period of time and is often part of an interpersonal relationship where someone might feel trapped emotionally or physically. They may also feel as if they have been coerced or powerless to prevent the trauma.

A condition related to type 2 trauma is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Examples of type 2 trauma include:

Sibling abuse

Childhood emotional abuse

Domestic violence

Emotional neglect and attachment trauma

Abandonment

Verbal abuse

Coercion

Domestic physical abuse

Long term misdiagnosis of a health problem

Bullying at home at school or in a work setting

Sexual abuse

Emotional abuse

Physical neglect

Overly strict upbringing sometimes religious

Historical, Collective or Intergenerational Trauma

This trauma is characterized by psychological or emotional difficulties which can affect different communities, cultural groups and generations. Adaptive coping patterns can be passed intergenerationally. Examples might include:

Racism

Slavery

Forcible removal from a family or community

Genocide

War

Vicarious or Secondary Trauma

This type of trauma can occur when someone speaks to someone who has experienced a trauma or witnessed a trauma first hand. The person listening can experience secondary trauma and experience symptoms experienced by the person explaining the trauma.

Little t trauma

Little t trauma is less prominent and discussed less often. Little t traumas are experiences which are part of the everyday and are an expected part of life. They may however be very traumatic. Examples might include:

Loss of a loved one (not traumatic bereavement)

Moving to a new house

Losing a job

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Types of trauma Trauma can be experienced in a number of different settings. Settings might include home life, at school, the work place, in the wider community or in a war zone. Whether an event is deemed traumatic is defined by the 'subjective experience' of it rather than the event itself.

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This website offers explanation of many trauma types.

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The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

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When a child feels intensely threatened by an event he or she is involved in or witnesses, we call that event a trauma. There is a range of traumatic events or trauma types to which children and adolescents can be exposed.

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The Impact of Trauma on Learning Part 1: Academic Performance

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Why Trauma-sensitive schools are important

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Why Trauma-sensitive schools are important

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Why We Need Trauma-Sensitive Schools (updated 8/2017)

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Coalition to Support Grieving Students - Back to School

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Coalition to Support Grieving Students - Back to School

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This resource helps educators know how they can help children process grief as they are heading back to school.

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This resource is so made to help people know how to handle traumatic events and help kids.

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National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement - Grief Over the Holidays

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National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement - Grief Over the Holidays

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This resource can help teachers determine how to help kids who struggle with grief over the holidays.

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National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement - After a Student has Died

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National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement - After a Student has Died

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This resource gives people tips on how to handle it if a student has died. I know this happened at my school last year, and it was so hard to find out how to handle it. This would have been helpful.

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InBrief: The Impact of Early Adversity on Children’s Development

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InBrief: The Impact of Early Adversity on Children’s Development

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This video discusses how ACES impact development. It shows what trauma is, and why trauma-informed practices are so vital.

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-the-impact-of-early-adversity-on-childrens-development/

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Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

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InBrief: The Impact of Early Adversity on Children's Development

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Resilience: An Essential Ingredient in Building Health and Well-being

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Resilience: An Essential Ingredient in Building Health and Well-being

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This article discusses how resilience is a very important piece in helping with someone's well being. This shows the important of trauma-informed services.

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Session 1: Intro to Trauma-Informed Care - Why is it important?

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Session 1: Intro to Trauma-Informed Care - Why is it important?

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This video gives important information regarding trauma and trauma-informed care.

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Session 1: Intro to Trauma-Informed Care - Why is it important?

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The NEA shares information about trauma-informed schools and information on ACES.

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NEA's COMMITMENT

The National Education Association (NEA) is committed to ensuring that school is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive place where all students can thrive, regardless of circumstance or ZIP code, and where educators have the support and resources they need to be successful. We believe supporting students who suffer from childhood trauma requires whole school involvement and transformation. All school employees play a crucial role in supporting students impacted by childhood trauma. In keeping with this vision, the Association and its affiliates are actively engaged in finding ways for schools and educators to address the issue of trauma and its implications for learning, behavior, and school safety.

FRAMING THE ISSUE OF TRAUMA

From school shootings that shock the nation with grim regularity to the daily toll of violence, poverty, abuse, and addiction in our communities that rarely makes headlines, America's students and their families often experience traumatic events that can shape their lives forever.

Decades of research and studies have established that children who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) not only are more likely to exhibit negative behaviors at school, but are more likely to develop risky behaviors. They are more likely to face a host of negative health consequences over their lifetimes, including reduced life expectancy. Data from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) showed that 46 percent of America's children had experienced at least one adverse childhood experience with the number rising to 55 percent for children aged 12 to 17. One in five U.S. children had two or more ACEs.

Given the pervasiveness of ACEs across the population, most educators encounter trauma-affected students throughout their careers, whether they know it or not. Often these students exhibit a sudden change in behavior, from social withdrawal to violent outbursts or self-harm. When an educator frequently interrupts instruction to address disruptive behavior, teaching and learning for the entire class can suffer.

These outbursts and the punishments that often follow affect the psychological well-being and safety of both educators and students and, left unexamined, contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline that NEA is committed to eradicating.

ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF TRAUMA

Unions and districts across the country are working together to address the epidemic of trauma in schools with students' and educators' needs in mind. They are collaborating to transform schools into "trauma-informed" or "trauma-sensitive" environments, taking deliberate steps to become safe havens for every student and safe working environments for every educator.

ACEs awareness and engagement on a national level is imperative to ensure students are healthy, safe, engaged and supported so that they are ready to learn. Trauma-sensitive and trauma-informed environments allow educators the opportunity to collaborate in a way that supports a student's mental and physical health so that learning can occur. School communities that engage in paid professional development, practice and support for all school employees create a culture that builds resilience for all students. Trauma-sensitive focus on education fosters a school climate where students feel safe and confident in their ability to learn, can differentiate between trauma induced behavior and appropriate behavior, and connect with adults and peers in a positive manner.

NEA believes that supporting students' needs around the issues of trauma will enable them to come to school ready to learn and meet academic challenges that reinforce the development of life skills, mental stimulation, and student learning. When schools become trauma sensitive, they strive to ensure that all students are receiving the supports they need to succeed.

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Supporting students who suffer from childhood trauma requires whole school involvement and transformation. NEA and its affiliates are actively engaged in finding ways for schools and educators to address the issue of trauma and its implications for learning, behavior, and school safety.