Trauma vs. trauma
When we hear the word “trauma,” our minds may instantly jump to images of natural disasters, violence, or war. However, there’s a key difference between Big “T” Trauma and little “t” trauma that can be helpful in understanding how different experiences affect individuals.
When it comes to trauma, you may hear me say Big “T” Trauma vs. little “t” trauma.
What is the difference?
Trauma with a capital “T” is what most people think of when they think about trauma. These are things like natural disasters, life threatening experiences or injuries, accidents, assault, violence, neglect, and war.
trauma with a lowercase “t”, or little “t” trauma is harder to identify a lot of the time for some individuals. These traumas can be different for everyone, but mainly come back to being identified by this:
An overwhelming, non-life threatening experience which affected an individual and made them feel unsafe (physically or emotionally), but rarely is there any true physical danger.
Examples of little “t” trauma can be relationship losses such as divorce or a break up, financial difficulty, bullying, infidelity, legal trouble, loss of a loved one or a pet, betrayal of trust, shameful or humiliating experiences, frightening experiences, or any other experience that is distressing beyond one’s ability to cope.
Does it matter?
Differentiating Trauma vs. trauma can be so helpful for individuals to begin to understand that they may be impacted by something that normally wouldn’t be considered “Trauma”.
Differentiating between Big “T” and little “t” trauma is crucial, as it can help individuals understand that they may be affected by something that normally wouldn’t be considered traumatic. It can also help people identify symptoms that they may not have recognized as related to trauma.
Big “T” Trauma can be easier for many individuals to identify as being traumatic and causing a plethora of symptoms and even PTSD.
little “t” trauma can be harder for people to identify as causing symptoms, which often times holds them back from seeking help.
little “t” trauma can also be more easily overlooked by other people, which means that someone may not get the grace and compassion they deserve, since other people don’t always identify little “t” trauma in the lives of their friends and loved ones.
Key Takeaways:
Big T and little t trauma both affect an individual and cause symptoms and nervous system dysregulation.
In conclusion, understanding the differences between Big “T” and little “t” trauma can help individuals recognize the impact of various experiences on their lives. Both types of trauma can cause symptoms and nervous system dysregulation, but recognizing little “t” trauma is especially important, as it can be overlooked by others and can prevent someone from seeking help. Whether it’s a Big “T” or little “t” trauma, it’s important to prioritize mental and emotional health and seek support when needed.
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Introducing the Flourish by Michelle trauma education series!
In this series I am discussing common terms that I use in this community and within my work as a trauma informed coach.
Ways to learn more:
🌱Join my private group off of social media! I run weekly trainings on various topics related to trauma, anxiety, burnout, imposter syndrome, and more. You can join at tinyurl.com/flourishbymichelle
🌱Follow me on LinkedIn to see more of my content
🌱Join my 1:1 coaching program. Space is limited. You can send me a message on LinkedIn or contact me HERE to see if you qualify.
🌱Tune into The Flourish Podcast here: anchor.fm/theflourishpodcast
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Michelle Holmes is a Performance Consultant who supports teams and individuals to increase their performance, resiliency, and creativity so that the individual AND the organization can FLOURISH. She provides workplace wellness workshops + corporate consulting, speaking engagements, and personal coaching.
You deserve to FLOURISH 🌱
Thanks for sharing such thought-provoking content.