Complex Trauma

Complex Trauma

It is the day to day experiences in family, neighborhood, play and school that affect brain and body function and determine the developmental trajectory. Positive stress, which is moderate, short-lived physiological responses to uncomfortable experiences, is an important and necessary aspect of healthy development.

However, chronic and unrelenting stress in early childhood, (perhaps caused by extreme poverty), neglect, repeated abuse or severe maternal depression, can be toxic to the developing brain. Complex trauma is the combination of childhood trauma and attachment disruption. It is the result of prolonged, multiple exposures and has interaction effects that disrupt the sequence of development.