Debunking the Misconceptions of Trauma Part 1; Trauma is the result of our inability to cope due to a major life event

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We often associate PTSD with soldiers or those who have experienced catastrophic events. However, what many don't realize is that trauma can also arise from exposure to smaller-scale events.

These small events can be compared to raindrops. Just as a gentle rain nourishes the soil, a collection of these occurrences can saturate the landscape of our minds. While a single raindrop may seem insignificant on its own a series of events can gradually erode our terrain leaving behind emotional and psychological imprints.

To understand trauma in this context, imagine our minds as the earth and each raindrop as an event. As these events repeat and accumulate, they mirror a downpour that slowly wears away at sturdy ground. Similarly persistent exposure to experiences even if individually minor can collectively contribute to the erosion of our mental and emotional well-being.

Like an abundance of rainfall can cause flooding and disruptions, a buildup of minor traumas can overpower an individual's ability to handle them leading to emotional distress, anxiety, or other mental health difficulties.This highlights the significance of acknowledging and addressing not only life events but also seemingly insignificant incidents that when combined can have a profound effect on a person's mental state.

Examples of these small events or re-occusing stressors are a breakup, the death of a pet, losing a job, getting bullied, or being rejected by a friend group. Re-occuing stressors  can be living with a toxic partner or family member, having a stressful job such as a paramedic, nurse, doctor, or even being a caretaker for a sick family member.

These events often leave us stuck in beliefs that don’t serve us well. For example, such as feeling vulnerable, helpless, powerless, not fitting in, feeling incompetent, thinking that we are not good enough, etc. Time is not enough to heal these traumas and seeking out professional help can get you back into that space where things are possible.