Most people think about definitions backwards. As debates spark on social media, some rush to Webster’s dictionary to wield the proper definition of a word in-order-to substantiate their position. The problem is, dictionaries derive word meanings from cultural use, not the other way around. So, words change over time. The word egregious for example is now known as something bad, but in times past, was understood to also mean remarkably good! The point is that meanings change based on cultural use in context, and then become reflected back by Webster’s and the like. So, no a word doesn’t hold a tangible, concrete reality that you can point to as declaration of your righteousness in an argument. As a side note, ALL words can be traced back to metaphors, so there is really no such thing as a “literal meaning”, for anything.
Let me now present to you the word, Trauma. Psychologically speaking, trauma is-considered-to be associated with a horrific event. However, trauma exists on a spectrum, as do all things. While we are quick to call the experience of a mass shooting a trauma, we often neglect to recognize the small events from our past, or the positive things that should have happened, but never did. Such as secure attachment to caregivers. Counselors often refer to these as “small t” traumas, or “passive trauma” (opposite to active trauma). Though, those “small t(s)” can often cause the same symptoms as the large ones do. Because of our rigid definition of the word trauma, the less explosive events of our past can be overlooked as contributing to current symptoms. Even the simple concept of unhappiness, can be in part, due to “small t(s)” of the past.
Perhaps it’s time to start using the word trauma in a way that describes events that lead to unhappiness and/or maladaptive behavior, and use the phrase major trauma, for well, major trauma. This allows us to validate the extent of the major trauma, without invalidating other life events that contribute to stress, anxiety, self-destructive patterns, depression, anger, or disdain for others that do not act or believe in the same ways that we do. Let us begin to see our lives through wider lenses, ones that account for all painful events, including both the large and small ones.
If you or someone that you know is struggling with symptoms of trauma, feel free to contact me through the contact page on this site.