Fact sheets

Complex trauma can affect many aspects of our daily lives. This includes how we feel; how we think; how we respond; how we relate to ourselves and to one another, and how safe we feel.

When you experience trauma, you are often in fear, confused, and feeling helpless and trapped in the moment. Many people with trauma experiences cope well and quickly become calm again.

It is your decision to lay charges if you are the victim. It is important to know that once that decision is made, all further decisions about the case will be in other hands.

The coping strategies survivors adopt as a child or young person are often used into adulthood. They help manage the strong feelings which are common with trauma. While coping strategies are often protective at first, they can become less helpful over time.

When you experience trauma, you are often in fear, confused, and feeling helpless and trapped in the moment. Many people with trauma experiences cope well and quickly become calm again.

People who have experienced complex trauma, including from childhood, can live full and constructive lives. Some people who experience complex trauma live fulfilling lives from the time of the trauma, while others face different barriers.