Do I Have Trauma?

“Trauma” can be a bit of a buzzword these days. Let’s talk about what it actually means. Many people think of trauma as a big, scary incident that leaves you emotionally shaken—childhood abuse, a car accident, the death of a loved one. We can classify many things as trauma. Some believe that if they haven’t experienced one of these stereotypical events, then they haven’t experienced trauma. But as humans, we all face trauma—it just looks different for each of us.

For example, two people might go through the same breakup but experience it in very different ways. For one, it could be a deeply painful process that leaves them fearful of ever entering another relationship. For the other, it might bring a sense of relief to leave what felt like an unhealthy relationship. For one individual, the breakup is traumatic; for the other, not as much. Each of us experiences life differently, so trauma looks different for everyone.

How do you know if you have trauma you haven’t worked through? Are there memories you’re too afraid to talk about or face? Does recalling them bring up emotions that feel too overwhelming to handle? That’s trauma—and it can be worked through in a safe, therapeutic environment. Maybe you can’t identify a specific memory or event, yet you still experience persistent anxiety in your daily life. With time and in a safe space, you can uncover and process traumas you didn’t even realize were still affecting you. Finding a safe person—perhaps a therapist—can be the first step in understanding and working through your personal traumas.

-Mannon Christianson