What is psychological trauma?

Psychological trauma can occur after an event in which a person was confronted with death, the threat of death, serious injury or violence, whether they experienced it themselves, witnessed it or learned that it affected someone close to them. It may be an accident, an assault, sexual violence, domestic or family violence, a terrorist attack, a disaster, a sudden bereavement, a very difficult birth or events experienced during a journey into exile.

Not all difficult events are traumatic, and not everyone exposed to a traumatic event develops lasting difficulties. What makes an event traumatic depends on the event itself, how it was experienced, the person’s history and the support received afterwards.

Reactions after a traumatic event

In the days and weeks that follow, it is common to feel fear, shock, anger, to sleep badly or to have images of the event coming back. These are normal responses to an abnormal situation, and they often ease gradually.

When they persist beyond a month, or appear later, sometimes months or years afterwards, this is known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It generally combines:

  • re-experiencing: intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, intense reactions to reminders of the event;
  • avoidance: avoiding places, people, thoughts or conversations linked to the event;
  • hypervigilance: being constantly on guard, startling at the slightest noise, difficulty sleeping and concentrating;
  • changes in thoughts and mood: guilt, shame, feeling detached from others, difficulty feeling positive emotions.

Repeated trauma and complex trauma

When traumatic events have been repeated over time, particularly in childhood or in a relationship that was hard to escape (family or domestic violence, neglect, coercive control), the consequences can be more diffuse. In addition to the symptoms of PTSD, there are often difficulties regulating emotions, a very damaged self-image and difficulties in relationships. This is known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder. People affected sometimes seek help for anxiety, depression or relationship difficulties without having made the link with their history.

When to seek help

It is worth seeking help if, after a difficult event:

  • symptoms have lasted several weeks or are getting worse;
  • you are avoiding more and more situations and your life is shrinking;
  • your sleep, work or relationships are affected over time;
  • you are using alcohol, medication or other substances to cope;
  • old memories are resurfacing and overwhelming you.

It is never too late: a past trauma can be worked through years later. If you are currently in danger, particularly in cases of domestic violence, call 17 or 112 in France, or 3919, the free, anonymous helpline for women experiencing violence. Outside France, contact your local emergency services.

How I can help

Post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated, and trauma-focused psychotherapies are among the recommended treatments. I completed training in “Interculturality and psychological trauma” at the Centre Régional du Psychotrauma, and my support is generally organised in several stages, adapted to each person.

Understanding and stabilising

Understanding what a traumatic reaction is, and why the body and mind react this way, often brings great relief. We first work on restoring a sense of safety and on tools to calm moments of overwhelm: breathing, grounding, emotional regulation, improving sleep.

Returning to what happened

When you feel ready, and at your own pace, we return to the traumatic memories so that they lose their charge and can become memories of the past rather than experiences replayed in the present. We also work on avoidance and on the beliefs that have taken hold (“it’s my fault”, “the world is dangerous”).

Giving it a place and a meaning

Finally, the aim is to integrate these events into your story, rebuild trust in yourself and in others, and reinvest in what matters to you. Existential, psychoanalytic and systemic approaches come fully into play here (find out more about my approach).

When symptoms are very intense, a medical opinion can be helpful, and I then work alongside your doctor or a psychiatrist. Sessions last about 50 minutes, at the Brotteaux practice, 134 rue de Sèze in Lyon 6th, or by video, in English, French or Portuguese. Many people find it easier to talk about difficult experiences in the language in which they lived them.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to talk about what happened in the first session?

No. You stay in control of the pace. The first session is about getting to know each other and understanding what you are experiencing today. Work on memories only comes once enough safety has been established.

Can a trauma from long ago still be treated?

Yes. It is never too late. Events experienced in childhood or many years ago can be worked through, and their effects on the present can ease.

The people around me do not understand why I cannot “move on”.

That is a common experience. Traumatic reactions do not depend on willpower. It can help for those close to you to better understand what you are going through; sessions with a partner or family can be offered if you wish.

Useful resources