Understanding Trauma
“Trauma” has become a buzzword in our culture, which has diluted its meaning. Many of us are left wondering: what is trauma actually, and further, what is it not?
In an effort to dispel the myths around trauma and to help you better understand how we approach trauma in our work at The Messina Movement, let’s explore this topic in more detail. This post is inspired by our program The Process, and the work of Ally Wise, Trauma Integration Coach.
What is Trauma?
Trauma occurs when we are exposed to negative, shocking, threatening, dangerous, and/or damaging environments or experiences. It looks different for each of us but what all trauma has in common is that, when unresolved, it inhibits our sense of safety and prevents us from embodying the fullness of who we are.
Trauma isn't just about what happened; it's also about what didn't happen. Unmet needs, lack of support, and/or neglect can contribute to traumatic experiences just as much as harmful events.
For example, think about falling off a bike and scraping your knee. Was there someone nurturing and attuning to your needs, or were you encouraged to “brush it off”? Did you feel supported or were you told “You’re ok,” when perhaps you weren’t? Similarly, if a loved one embarrassed or startled you, was there an apology or conscious awareness of the impact? Or were you told, "You’re too sensitive—toughen up"?
Both examples show how the same event could lead to very different outcomes depending on the support available at that moment. While we can't change our pasts or the actions of others, we can work towards resolving the lingering effects of trauma in our lives.
Types of Trauma
Trauma can take many forms — acute, developmental, intergenerational, and collective. Each underscores the complex interplay between individual experiences and broader societal factors. Understanding trauma, what it is and what it’s not, is a critical step toward both personal and collective healing.
Acute Trauma
Acute trauma is sudden and narrowly focused. It typically happens once (though it may repeat), and is directly experienced or witnessed. Examples include accidents, natural disasters, violence, war, or the sudden death of a loved one.
As Ally Wise explains, these experiences can create shock, and without proper support, they can remain unresolved, leading to ongoing nervous system dysregulation.
Development Trauma
Developmental trauma happens in the earliest years of life (0-18 years) and is made up of relational misattunement, unhealthy boundaries, insecure attachment, neglect, and/or abuse. This type of emotional trauma creates wounds that manifest later in life – impacting how we view the world and interact with others.
Intergenerational / Ancestral Trauma
Intergenerational trauma is unresolved stress passed down through generations, either genetically or through unconscious relational patterns.
Collective Trauma
Collective or systemic trauma goes beyond the individual and their ancestry. It arises from inequitable social structures and societal experiences rooted in race, culture, religion, politics, and other intersections.
Unresolved Trauma
When trauma remains undetected or ignored, it can make relationships challenging, provoke fear, anxiety, and/or depression. It can leave us feeling out of control, defensive, helpless, worthless, closed off, and/or disconnected from ourselves, others, and the world – we operate in a state of protection instead of connection. Unresolved trauma distorts how we see the world and ourselves, limiting our ability to live the rich, abundant, free and full lives that we want and deserve, and furthermore, sits in the driver’s seat taking control of our thoughts, emotions, and actions.
What Trauma is Not
Trauma is not a disease, diagnosis, or disorder. While the effects of trauma may contribute to psychological, physical, and emotional challenges, trauma itself is not an illness. Rather, it is an unresolved piece of the past, often characterized by a yearning for reconnection.
For many people, trauma has become a mode of operating — shaping how they live and breathe, interact with others, view themselves, and give and receive care. However, trauma is not the end of the story. No one is meant to live perpetually in survival mode. Healing is possible.
We Can Heal From Trauma
Acknowledging trauma's impact on our lives and relationships is the first step towards healing and breaking the cycles that perpetuate it. If we are unequipped to address our own trauma, we risk continuing the cycle. At The Messina Movement, we heal one step at a time – led by you, and informed by your unique needs – to shape a healthier future for ourselves and those around us.
We invite you to check out the links below to get started with us.
Our signature group program, The Process, is open for registration this fall. Join us in our October cohort, starting Wednesday, the 30th.
Looking to learn more about me?
Check out the About Me page if you’re interested!
Looking for more ways to connect and get support with this work?
1:1 Sessions with Me
Join The Process, our online 8-week group program
Practice with our On Demand Library
Design your Private Retreat