In this episode, Tim Fletcher explains the working of the brain and how Complex Trauma affects brain functioning.

Complex Trauma sets a child up to be an adult that does not have very good coping skills.

Coping skills are learned behaviours. In a healthy home, children gather skills on how to handle difficult situations. This does not happen in a home where complex trauma is being inflicted by the parents. Instead, the focus then becomes on survival only. These coping skills are defective and simply don’t work in the long run.

He lists 17 characteristics typical of people who have complex trauma:- Do not handle stress well, Fear of Change or Failure, Fear of Success, Sabotage of Good Things, Afraid to Hope, Drawn to Chaos and Risky Behaviour, Trust Issues, Must be in Control, Manipulation of Others, Honesty Issues, Authority Issues, Don’t Handle Criticism Well, Overly Negative /Critical, Instant Gratification Focus, Impulsive, Have Trouble Persevering, Don’t Like Responsibility or Commitment.