Trauma Related Experiences Fact Sheets

This fact sheet builds understanding around the role of coping strategies in survival and the longer term. People who experience complex trauma especially from childhood develop a range of coping strategies which are protective at first but often less protective over time. It is important to understand the role of coping strategies and support people to build their resources to enable them to develop different coping strategies in later life.

This fact sheet explores the ways complex trauma including childhood trauma and abuse can affect a person’s emotions and their ability to manage or regulate them. People with complex trauma experiences are often triggered and experience changes in their level of arousal. People can swing from being hyperaroused to being hypoaroused and often find it hard to stay inside their Window of Tolerance – the level of arousal in which people function best. Some people who freeze as part of their survival response also dissociate. Dissociation is explained in simple terms to help people affected understand that dissociation can be seen as a defence mechanism to prevent the mind from being overwhelmed.

Fact sheet which builds understanding around the possible impacts of complex trauma including childhood trauma and abuse on the body, mind and emotions. It talks about the effects of trauma on physical and emotional health, relationships and wellbeing

This fact sheet talks about possibilities for and pathways to healing and recovery for survivors of complex trauma. It provides information about neuroplasticity and the capacity of the brain to repair. Everyone is unique and each person’s journey of recovery is individual with different approaches supporting their recovery. The main message is the hope and possibility for recovery

This fact sheet explores the effects of childhood trauma on a person’s sense of self and their core beliefs. It speaks about childhood development, caregiving and the importance of a person’s social context in developing their identity and sense of belonging.