Acute trauma (sometimes referred to Simple trauma) results from a single distressing event, such as an accident, rape, assault, or natural disaster. In the perinatal population birth trauma may fall in to this category.  The event threatens the person’s emotional or physical safety and creates a lasting impact in the mind and body, affecting the way the person thinks, feels and behaves.

Chronic trauma can occur when a person is exposed to multiple, long-term, and/or prolonged distressing, traumatic events over an extended period. These may be events of the same type, or events of different types. Chronic trauma may result from a long-term serious illness, sexual abuse, domestic violence, bullying, and exposure to extreme situations, such as a war. Several events of acute trauma as well as untreated acute trauma may progress into chronic trauma. The symptoms of chronic trauma may not emerge until years after the event.  Its for this reason that birth trauma can be a catalyst for some individuals that have experienced previous trauma to then endure the symptoms of complex trauma.

Complex trauma is similar to complex trauma as it is a result of exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events or experiences. The difference here is that these events are generally within the context of an interpersonal (between people) relationship with a trusted individual, often in childhood. It may give the person a feeling of betrayal, being trapped, and distrust. Complex trauma often has a severe impact on the person’s mind. It may be seen in individuals who have been victims of childhood abuse, emotional neglect, domestic violence, and family disputes. It affects the person’s overall health, relationships, performance at work or school, as it intrinsically affects the way they view themselves and their place in the world.