Introduction: Defining Psychic Trauma
Psychic trauma, also known as psychological or emotional trauma, refers to an experience or series of experiences that overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope, leading to profound emotional and psychological distress.[1] Unlike physical trauma, psychic trauma leaves no visible scars, but its effects can be just as, if not more, devastating.[2] This form of trauma is often the result of overwhelming events like abuse, neglect, violence, or the sudden loss of a loved one. Psychic trauma disrupts the very foundation of one’s sense of self, safety, and worldview.
Psychiatrist Judith Herman[3], a leading expert on trauma, defines it as an event that overwhelms the individual’s capacity to integrate their emotional experience, threatening their psychological stability.[4] Trauma’s imprint is not just a memory of an overwhelming event but a disruption in the way we process and respond to our inner and outer worlds. This article explores the nature of psychic trauma, its effects on mental health, and the pathways to healing.
The Roots of Psychic Trauma: When the Mind is Overwhelmed
Psychic trauma is not limited to one specific type of event. What may be traumatic for one person might not be for another; the determining factor is the individual’s subjective experience of the event. Traumatic experiences tend to share a few common characteristics: they are overwhelming, unexpected, and often involve some form of violation, helplessness, or lack of control.[5] This can include:
- Childhood Abuse and Neglect: One of the most common roots of psychic trauma is adverse childhood experiences, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.[6] When children experience trauma, their developing brains are deeply affected, leading to long-term changes in their neurobiology and emotional regulation. Neglect, where a child’s emotional and physical needs are not met, can also be just as traumatic as overt abuse.
- Accidents or Natural Disasters: Surviving a catastrophic event, such as a car accident or a natural disaster, can leave deep psychological wounds. Survivors often report feeling disoriented, hypervigilant, and plagued by intrusive memories long after the event has passed.
- Loss and Grief: The sudden death of a loved one, particularly when it is unexpected or violent, can be traumatic. This type of psychic trauma often leads to complicated grief, where individuals are unable to process their loss and find themselves stuck in a cycle of profound sadness and despair.
- Violence or War: For survivors of violence[7], war, or terrorism, psychic trauma can be enduring. Witnessing or being subjected to violence can lead to long-lasting effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where the individual is haunted by flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
How Psychic Trauma Affects the Brain
Psychic trauma is not just an emotional or cognitive experience; it leaves a deep imprint on the brain[8]. Research by neuroscientist Bessel van der Kolk shows that traumatic experiences can disrupt the brain’s normal functioning, particularly in areas related to memory, emotion regulation, and threat detection.
- The Amygdala: The brain’s threat-detection center, the amygdala[9], becomes hyperactive in traumatized individuals, leaving them in a state of constant alertness or hypervigilance. This explains why trauma survivors may be easily startled or constantly feel as though danger is imminent, even in the absence of a real threat.
- The Hippocampus: Trauma can also damage the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for processing and integrating memories. When the hippocampus is affected, memories of the traumatic event may be fragmented, leading to intrusive flashbacks, dissociation, and difficulty distinguishing the past from the present.
- The Prefrontal Cortex: This area of the brain is involved in higher-level thinking and decision-making. In trauma survivors, the prefrontal cortex may become underactive, impairing the individual’s ability to regulate emotions, make rational decisions, and feel in control of their responses.
These changes in brain function contribute to the symptoms of PTSD, such as re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and experiencing heightened arousal and reactivity.
Psychic Trauma and the Body
Psychic trauma is not confined to the mind; it manifests in the body as well. Research shows that trauma survivors often experience a range of somatic symptoms, including chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, and cardiovascular problems.[10] Trauma expert Peter Levine describes how trauma is stored in the body, leading to a state of perpetual arousal where the nervous system is unable to return to a state of calm.[11] This is why trauma survivors may experience symptoms like muscle tension, rapid heart rate, and digestive problems long after the traumatic event.
Levine’s work with Somatic Experiencing, a body-based therapy for trauma, highlights the importance of addressing not only the psychological aspects of trauma but also the physiological ones. Healing from trauma requires releasing the pent-up energy stored in the body and restoring balance to the nervous system.
The Psychological Effects of Psychic Trauma
The psychological consequences of psychic trauma are wide-ranging and can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life. These effects include:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Trauma survivors may develop PTSD, a condition characterized by intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness. PTSD often disrupts daily functioning and can lead to issues in relationships, work, and overall well-being.
- Dissociation: Dissociation is a common response to trauma, where the individual mentally disconnects from the traumatic event or from themselves. This can range from feeling detached from one’s emotions to experiencing full-blown dissociative states, such as amnesia or depersonalization.
- Anxiety and Depression: Many traumas survivors struggle with chronic anxiety and depression, often feeling as though their emotional pain is insurmountable. These conditions may be exacerbated by feelings of shame, guilt, or worthlessness, which are often byproducts of the traumatic experience.
- Relationship Issues: Psychic trauma can severely affect a person’s ability to trust others and form healthy relationships. Survivors may either become overly dependent on others or withdraw completely, fearing that intimacy will lead to further pain.
Pathways to Healing: Recovering from Psychic Trauma
While psychic trauma can leave deep scars, recovery is possible with the right interventions and support.[12] Healing from trauma involves both emotional and physiological components, as the mind and body are interconnected in the recovery process. Key approaches include:
- Trauma-Informed Therapy: Psychotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for psychic trauma. Trauma-informed therapies, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)[13] and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), help individuals process and reframe traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity.
- Somatic Therapies: Body-based approaches, such as Somatic Experiencing, are designed to release trauma stored in the body. These therapies help individuals restore balance to their nervous system and regain a sense of safety within their own bodies.
- Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Mindfulness practices[14], such as meditation and breathing exercises, can help trauma survivors ground themselves in the present moment and develop self-compassion. Studies show that mindfulness reduces symptoms of PTSD and anxiety by calming the mind and body.
- Support Networks: Healing from psychic trauma often requires strong social support. Trauma survivors benefit from being surrounded by people who offer validation, understanding, and a sense of safety. Support groups, peer counselors, and close relationships can play a crucial role in the recovery process.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
Psychic trauma may leave invisible wounds, but its impact is deeply felt by those who endure it. It alters the way we view ourselves, the world, and those around us. However, with the right interventions and support systems, healing from psychic trauma is possible. By addressing both the psychological and physiological components of trauma, individuals can regain a sense of safety, wholeness, and peace. Psychic trauma may be a part of our story, but it does not have to define our future.
[1] Furst, Sidney S., ed. Psychic trauma. New York: Basic Books, 1967.
[2] Giller, Esther. “What is psychological trauma.” Sidran Institute 15 (1999): 2021.
[3] Bacciagaluppi, Marco. “The study of psychic trauma.” Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry 39.3 (2011): 525-538.
[4] Herman, Judith Lewis. “Trauma and Recovery Judith Lewis Herman, MD.” (1992).
[5] Zeng, Jing. “The roots of psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress reaction/disorders and the intervention.” Computer Science in Industrial Application: Proceedings of the 2014 Pacific-Asia Workshop on Computer Science and Industrial Application (CSIA 2014), Bangkok, Thailand, November 17-18, 2014. CRC Press, 2015.
[6] Eth, Spencer, and Robert S. Pynoos. “Developmental perspective on psychic trauma in childhood.” Trauma and its wake. Routledge, 2013. 36-52.
[7] Herman, Judith. “The Aftermath of Violence: Trauma and Recovery.” Transforming Terror. New (2020).
[8] van der Kolk, Bessel A. “The biological response to psychic trauma.” Post-traumatic therapy and victims of violence. Routledge, 2013. 25-38.
[9] Weniger, Godehard, et al. “Reduced amygdala and hippocampus size in trauma-exposed women with borderline personality disorder and without posttraumatic stress disorder.” Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 34.5 (2009): 383-388.
[10] Lewis, R. “Trauma and the Body.” The International Journal of Bioenergetic Analysis 11.2 (2000): 61-75.
[11] Levine, Peter. “Somatic experiencing.” 2012,
[12] Huppertz, Bernd, ed. Approaches to psychic trauma: Theory and practice. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.
[13] Grifoni, Joy, et al. “Auditory personalization of EMDR treatment to relieve trauma effects: a feasibility study [EMDR+].” Brain Sciences 13.7 (2023): 1050.
[14] Calvert, Rochelle. Healing with Nature: Mindfulness and Somatic Practices to Heal from Trauma. New World Library, 2021.