Trauma can be a difficult thing to understand. As a result, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing certain myths or misconceptions about trauma and the ways it affects our lives. In reality, these ideas are often far from the truth and could lead us to make incorrect assumptions about people who have experienced trauma. By recognizing these false beliefs and challenging them, we can help ourselves and others heal from their traumatic experiences in a more positive and healthy manner. Read on to explore some of the common misconceptions about trauma that we should all strive to unlearn.
Trauma Stems Solely From Violent Experiences
Despite popular belief, trauma is not always caused by extremely devastating events such as war, natural disasters, and physical abuse. Trauma can stem from any event that creates an emotional and psychological upheaval. This could include being bullied in school, surviving near-death experiences such as car accidents, navigating the death of a family member, undergoing medical or dental procedures, or even witnessing domestic violence or traumatic events in the news.
Everyone’s experience with trauma is unique and complex. Acknowledging the many different causes of trauma helps encourage compassionate understanding and support for those who are struggling with its effects in whatever form it may take.
Your Trauma Response Is Your Fault
Many people feel guilty or ashamed about the way they reacted when facing their traumatic experiences. However, it is important to remember that trauma responses are automatic and can occur without conscious control.
Understanding how trauma responses work and why you resort to them in intense moments of fear or danger allows you to better process your reactions. This, in turn, helps you work through misplaced feelings of guilt and heal from the experience. It’s also an opportunity to show yourself compassion. Instead of seeing your responses as failures, you can acknowledge them as human defenses designed to protect you in an overwhelming situation.
Trauma Lasts Forever
One of the most common misconceptions about trauma is that it causes lifelong suffering that you can never truly heal from. This simply isn’t true. Although traumatic experiences can dramatically shape our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, there is no reason to believe that one must remain in a place of pain forever. With professional guidance, you can find relief from the hurt caused by trauma and unlearn negative behaviors that stem from trauma and trauma responses. Time and effort help you overcome the challenges of trauma, build more positive habits, and create a happier, healthier life for yourself.
