Trauma can come in many forms and have a lasting impact on an individual's life, whether the details of the trauma are explicitly remembered or not. Complex Trauma refers to repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic events such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and/or abandonment during developmental years. Complex Trauma is directly related to and often the result of attachment trauma and most often takes root within family dysfunction and dynamics. It can have a significant effect on emotional, physical, and psychological well-being.

Pete Walker, the author of "Complex PTSD: From Surviving To Thriving," asserts that most psychiatric disorders are born from Complex Trauma and that our collective psychological well-being has emerged within a cultural framework of rampant familial dysfunction and cyclical generational trauma.

It is shocking just how prevalent developmental dysfunction truly is. In the early 1990s, two doctors came together to investigate early childhood abuse and neglect as an underlying cause of medical, social, and public health problems later in life. What they found was an alarming revelation of the underlying pervasiveness of violence, abuse and neglect affecting children everywhere during their most vulnerable and dependent years. Their study focused primarily on white, middle-class families with adults in the home having at least some college education. What they found was that 1 in 4 homes had substance abuse with at least one parent, 1 in 4 homes experienced physical abuse, and 1 in 5 homes experienced sexual abuse. 

They went on to show how the extent of abuse affects our neurology and impacts our health outcomes. The CDC, now concerned with this epidemic of abuse, funded research that tracked the effects of childhood trauma on health throughout the lifespan. They called it the Adverse Childhood Experience Study (ACE). You can find your ACE Score here. It's probably not 0. 

https://pinetreeinstitute.org/aces-test/

It is human nature to minimize, dismiss, or completely forget the abuse we may have experienced in our childhood. Whatever your mindset or beliefs around your childhood experiences may be, rest assured they are affecting you today, having created bio-physiological blind spots that are ingrained in your very identity and subconscious habits and play out in your relationships, parenting, leadership, and self-confidence.

Leadership requires a strong sense of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate complex situations with confidence and skill. However, if you have experienced complex trauma or have dysfunctional bio-physiological blind spots, this can have a profound impact on your leadership potential.  Here are some signs that your past trauma may be impeding your ability to lead effectively:

1. Difficulty with trust and relationships: Those who have experienced complex trauma may have difficulty building or maintaining healthy relationships with others. This can be a significant obstacle to effective leadership, as trust and strong relationships are essential for building and maintaining a cohesive team.
2. Fear of failure and strong inner critic: Those who have experienced trauma may struggle with a fear of failure or belief that they are not capable of achieving success. This can impact their ability to make decisions, take risks, and be decisive, which are all critical components of effective leadership.
3. Difficulty with emotion regulation: Complex Trauma can lead to emotional dysregulation as well as frequent emotional flashbacks, making it challenging to manage one's emotions effectively. This can lead to outbursts, impulsivity, and an inability to remain calm under pressure, all of which can impede effective leadership.
4. Difficulty with communication: Effective communication is a critical component of leadership. However, those who have experienced complex trauma may struggle with expressing themselves clearly and effectively, and may have difficulty truly listening to others.

If you recognize these signs in yourself, professional support and guidance can be instrumental in facilitating the critical inner growth necessary to overcome these obstacles and improve your leadership potential. Here are some steps you can take to begin to build the infrastructure for healing in your life:

1. Seek therapy or coaching. If you have never done trauma work before, therapy will be the best first step. A trauma-informed therapist can guide you through the inner exploration necessary and give you strategies to mitigate the myriad of painful emotions that often come up through doing the work. A trauma-informed coach, on the other hand, supports you in developing awareness of and overcoming adverse symptoms that are affecting the quality of your relationships, your parenting, your leadership, and your sense of self-worth. Building awareness around your own dysregulation and bio-physiological blond spots leads to transformational inner growth and effectiveness. 
2. Build a support network: Building a supportive and safe network of friends, family, and colleagues can help you build trust and establish relationships that can enhance your leadership skills. Having a safe space to explore your authenticity with others is crucial to the healing process.
3. Develop self-care practices: Self-care is essential for maintaining good mental health and managing the effects of trauma. Incorporating practices such as exercise, meditation, and journaling into your daily routine can help you manage and release stress, build resilience, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Developing a self-care practice that supports your specific journey of healing and growth is critical in maintaining momentum when things feel challenging.
4. Practice communication skills: Developing effective communication skills is necessary for effective leadership. Practice active listening, seek feedback, and work on expressing yourself clearly and concisely.

Complex trauma can have a profound impact on an individual's life and recovery can feel overwhelming. However, by seeking help, taking care of yourself, and practicing healthy vulnerability with others, it is possible to overcome these obstacles and become an even more effective leader. Not in spite of, but because of pain and through our healing journey from it, do we develop deeper empathy and capacity to connect with others.