8 Types of Trauma
How Life Shapes the Body & Nervous System
Trauma isn’t just about what happens to you—it’s about how your body, mind, and spirit respond when life becomes too overwhelming to process. Whether it’s a single shocking event, ongoing childhood adversity, or years of toxic stress, trauma imprints itself into your nervous system, your posture, your breath, and your energy. Understanding the different types of trauma is the first step toward real healing.
1. Shock Trauma (Single-Event Trauma)
Car accidents
Falls or severe injuries
Assault (physical, sexual, or emotional)
Robbery or home invasion
Natural disasters (earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes)
Medical emergencies or sudden life-threatening diagnoses
Acts of war or terrorism
Witnessing a violent event
2. Developmental Trauma (Chronic Early-Life Trauma)
Childhood abuse (physical, sexual, emotional)
Neglect (physical and emotional)
Household dysfunction (addiction, mental illness, domestic violence)
Inconsistent or absent caregiving
Lack of emotional attunement and safety
Attachment wounds (loss of caregiver, abandonment)
Living with a parent who has unresolved trauma
3. Relational Trauma (Interpersonal Trauma)
Betrayal by trusted loved ones
Emotional manipulation or gaslighting
Toxic romantic relationships
Codependency and enmeshment
Bullying or social exclusion
Repeated invalidation or shaming of feelings
4. Chronic Toxic Stress
Ongoing poverty or financial instability
Racism, sexism, or systemic oppression
Adverse community environments (violence, crime, unsafe neighborhoods)
Immigration-related stress (refugee trauma, family separation)
Chronic caregiver stress (caring for a loved one with severe illness)
Ongoing legal battles or custody disputes
5. Medical Trauma
Early childhood surgeries or invasive procedures
Painful medical treatments without proper emotional support
Long-term hospitalization or ICU stays
Medical neglect or misdiagnosis
Birth trauma (for the child or mother)
6. Grief and Loss Trauma
Death of a loved one (especially sudden or traumatic death)
Loss of a home or community (e.g., due to natural disaster or displacement)
Loss of identity (retirement, divorce, disability)
7. Intergenerational and Historical Trauma
Trauma passed down through family lineage (unresolved grief, violence, exile)
Collective trauma (slavery, genocide, colonization, forced migration)
Cultural erasure or loss of ancestral practices
8. Existential or Spiritual Trauma
Experiences that shake one’s core beliefs or sense of meaning
Religious or spiritual abuse
Betrayal by spiritual leaders or communities
Dr. G offers the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) as part of her trauma healing approach. These evidence-based auditory therapies help regulate the autonomic nervous system, calm survival responses, and support emotional resilience. You can rent SSP or RRP to use at home, allowing your nervous system to reset safely and gently—preparing your body to heal at a deeper level.
If you’re ready to get to the root of your pain—not just manage symptoms—Dr. G can help. Through Physioenergetic Therapy, you’ll uncover where trauma is stored in your body and begin the process of releasing it so you can reclaim your vitality, energy, and purpose. Contact Dr. G to begin your healing journey.
Heal with Household Medicine team in Mount Shasta this fall!
More details: Energizing the Body through Transforming Trauma