Relational / Interpersonal Trauma (also called Complex Trauma) occurs when we someone we thought we could trust turns out to have ulterior motives to disempower our ability to trust our judgement.

This trauma happens when we are emotionally, physically, sexually, academically, socially or spiritually violated.

It can challenge our capacity for closeness or intimacy because it interrupts our memory and attention : it increases our somatization, scrambles our self perception (Am I at fault? Or are they? Are they safe? Or, am I overthinking it?), and  dis-regulates our responses - overly calm when there is cause for concern and, conversely, anxious when there isn’t.