What Is Complex Trauma, and Why It’s So Often Misunderstood

Complex Trauma Isn’t One Event

When people hear the word *trauma*, they often think of a single overwhelming incident. Complex trauma is different. It develops over time, often in relationships where safety, consistency, or emotional attunement were missing.

Complex trauma may stem from:

* Childhood emotional neglect or chronic criticism

* Growing up with unpredictable or unsafe caregivers

* Long-term emotional abuse, gaslighting, or control

* Repeated experiences of not being seen, believed, or protected

Because these experiences are often subtle or normalized, many people don’t realize they’ve been impacted by trauma at all.

How Complex Trauma Shows Up

Complex trauma doesn’t just live in memory, it lives in the nervous system. It can show up as:

* Chronic anxiety or emotional overwhelm

* People-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries

* Shame, self-doubt, or harsh inner criticism

* Emotional numbness or shutdown

* Repeating painful relationship patterns

* Feeling “too sensitive” or “too much”

These responses aren’t flaws. They are survival strategies that once helped you cope.

Why Complex Trauma Is Often Missed

Because complex trauma develops over time, many people minimize it:

“Others had it worse.”

“Nothing *that* bad happened.”

But trauma isn’t defined by the event, it’s defined by how your nervous system was shaped by it. If your emotional needs weren’t consistently met, that matters.

Healing from Complex Trauma Is Possible

Healing doesn’t mean erasing the past. It means understanding your patterns with compassion and learning how to feel safer—in your body, in relationships, and in yourself.

With the right support, many people experience:

* Greater emotional regulation

* A stronger sense of self

* More ease in relationships

* Less shame and more self-trust

A Gentle Invitation

If you recognize yourself here, you are not broken, you adapted. And those adaptations can soften.

I offer trauma-informed therapy for adults navigating complex and relational trauma, with a focus on safety, compassion, and deep respect for your pace.

Christina Sheehan, LPC, LMHC
Inner Life Psychotherapy — Radical, Transformative Counseling for Highly Sensitive Women
Telehealth in Oregon & Washington
503-470-3128 │ 🌐 www.innerlifetherapy.com