Relational Trauma: What It Is And How To Spot It 

Normally when you hear the word trauma, you likely think of a car crash, serving in the armed forces, or some other violent event that has a lasting effect. While these events can absolutely be traumatic for some people and leave them experiencing unpleasant symptoms, there’s another type of trauma that doesn’t necessarily have a clean “start” and “stop.” It isn’t very widely discussed or acknowledged, so oftentimes people don’t recognize when they may be experiencing some of its effects (and suffering from them). In this week’s blog we’re going to explore that more often missed type of trauma, often called relational trauma.

Relational Trauma…What Exactly does that mean?  

You may not have heard the term “relational trauma” and that’s okay. It’s a relatively new term and is often overshadowed by the big “T” Traumas, such as the overtly violent ones mentioned above. But little “t” traumas can wreak just as much havoc on people. Relational trauma is usually considered a little “t” trauma because it is relational in nature (going through a break-up, being in a toxic relationship, living in a tension-filled household as a child, etc). Relational trauma can lead to relationship problems later in life, after the traumatic event or events have passed, and often after you have forgotten yourself about how difficult they were for you. It can fundamentally change the way you think about and interact with people and the world at large. You may think and behave in ways that don’t suit you well because of this type of trauma, and often you aren’t aware of what’s happening and don’t know how to get help.

What’s hard to pinpoint about relational trauma is that it can be compounded over years and years through subtle (or not so subtle) ways. This might look like having anger modeled for you as the only acceptable emotion by your parents. Even if they never showed agression toward you but you felt the tension in the house constantly, you could then grow into an adult who is fearful of people. Maybe it’s your parents pointing out everything you’ve done wrong without acknowledgment of positive qualities, then you find yourself either repeating that pattern in your life with your kids or are constantly insecure and unsure about yourself.

Relational trauma sets the stage for dysfunctional ways of relating to other people as you move through life. Though a lot of relational trauma stems from experiences early in life, you can absolutely experience relational trauma as an adult as well. Maybe you were in some toxic relationships or friendships, didn’t realize it at the time, and afterward find yourself feeling stuck when it comes to connecting with others. If you find it hard to trust and connect with other people, there may have been some form of relational trauma in your past.

Examples of Relational Trauma

Contributing factors to emotional trauma: 

• Not having basic needs met as a child (neglect/abuse)
• Having basic needs met, but not being taught emotional regulation
• Being responded to as if your emotions are “too much”
• Being gaslighted/manipulated
• Experiencing bullying
• Staying in unhealthy relationships
• Feeling trapped (especially as a child) in situations you can’t change 

The effects of relational trauma are far-reaching. It can look like codependency at times, but not always. There is a connection between your body and mind, the wellbeing of one certainly affect the other.

How Relational Trauma Can Impact You 

• Feeling as though people are out to get you or use you
• Digestive issues
• Experiencing anxiety and depressive symptoms
• Headaches
• Blaming yourself for how other people treated you
• Taking responsibility for emotions of others
• Dissociation/being on autopilot/numb
• Socially withdrawing
• Feeling uneasy most of the time
• Finding it hard to feel joy for self and others
• Intense fear of intimacy (not just sex, but emotional closeness)
• Becoming irritable and impatient with people
• Projecting your own insecurities onto them
• Feeling as though you know people think badly of you (mind reading)

Healing 

First and foremost, if you feel like it’s impossible for you to have healthy relationships, you are not alone. You might feel like something always goes wrong or you become fearful of what might happen. Many people struggle with similar feelings and it makes it very difficult for them to reach out. You may want to consider seeing a counselor to help you sort through what might have contributed to your current concerns and to be an outside voice to help you process through things without the fears of being judged or hurt.

Ongoing Help 

A counselor can help you to identify areas in which you become stuck, where you shut yourself down and withdraw from human connection, or help you recognize ways that you might actually be self-sabotaging when it comes to creating meaningful relationships (romantic and otherwise). You can absolutely work toward a place of healing from your relational trauma. Click here for more information on relational trauma to see if it fits for what you have experienced. If you are in the Lawrence or Mercer County areas consider setting up an appointment with a therapist at Angelus to help you work toward healing and allowing yourself to connect in safe meaningful ways again.