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This article is a little different from what I normally write. I want to share my experience of shock trauma to help explain what happens in the brain during acute, overwhelming danger, particularly the reactions to it that are often misunderstood. First, it's important to note that trauma can take different forms: Shock trauma:  Immediate life-threatening situations, such as accidents and assaults. Complex trauma:  Repeated or prolonged exposure to harm, such as ongoing chil

Trauma is more common than we often realise, and its effects can ripple across every part of a person’s life, mental, physical, and emotional. Trauma doesn’t just impact individuals; it can shape families, communities, and society as a whole. Yet awareness of trauma, and how to respond to it safely, is still limited in the UK. Without correctly informed support, people can be unintentionally retraumatised, and the help they receive may not be long-lasting. Thankfully, busines

Recognising Covert Abuse in Action Unlike overt abuse, covert abuse operates through subtle manipulation, withdrawal, and invalidation. Many survivors describe feeling off balance or confused, as though they can’t quite pinpoint what’s wrong. Common indicators of this type of abuse include: Persistent self-doubt : You start second-guessing your memory, reactions, or perception of events and may even wonder if it's you that is causing the harm. Walking on eggshells : You becom

Content warning: this article discusses emotional and psychological abuse What Is Covert Abuse? Covert abuse is one of the most insidious forms of emotional and psychological harm. Unlike overt abuse, which tends to be visible, such as shouting, threats, or public humiliation. Covert abuse, on the other hand, operates under the surface. It’s calculated, subtle, and often hidden behind charm and humour. According to Neal (2022) covert abuse  is described as: "The indirect use