Complex Trauma

What is complex trauma?

Psychological trauma is never simple. But commonly it is a one-off, unexpected event that impacts our lives. Sadly, some people experience ongoing, multiple traumas over some time which can often start in childhood. This is called complex trauma.

These traumas can include:

  • Childhood abuse, neglect or abandonment
  • Ongoing domestic violence
  • Seeing violence and abuse repeatedly
  • Generational (ancestral) traumas – Indigenous people around the world are still suffering emotional and psychological effects of forced removal of their children and destruction of their cultural practices.

You are more likely to develop complex trauma and its effects if:

  • The trauma started at a young age
  • You could not escape the trauma
  • You have experienced multiple traumas
  • You were harmed by someone close to you.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains images, voices and names of those returned to the dreaming.