Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence."

There are many forms of interpersonal or relational trauma, including: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence, complex trauma, attachment trauma, physical or sexual assault, and forms of abuse including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial, and neglect.

People impacted by relational trauma experience a range of difficulties that can include: anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, antisocial or illegal behavior, codependency, eating disorders, suicidal behaviors, self harm, affect dysregulation, dysfunctional relationships, physical health problems, and financial, food, or housing insecurity.

One thing that these forms of interpersonal trauma have in common is that regardless of the original event that sparked the trauma, and no matter which observable behavioral or physiological symptoms are manifested in an individual: the internal experience of carrying trauma in the body causes dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ongoing experience of living with this dysregulation interferes with our innate ability to recover from traumatic experiences. Watch the video produced by The Trauma Foundation below for a detailed overview ANS functioning, the disruption caused by trauma, and how to recalibrate your ANS to create the conditions for healing from trauma.

At Nested Integral Coaching Constellation, our trauma-informed coaching and programs support participants in learning to regulate their nervous system, build healthy connections and support systems, and create the conditions for healing and wholeness. 

To find out more about how to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma, heal your own wounds, partner with us, or make a contribution to support our mission, please reach out to jen@ni2c.org.