#retraumatization

#retraumatization

Has this happened to you? You run into someone, and they ask about something that you shared with them that was painful. They start talking about it, and there you go, hurting again? You weren't thinking about it, and the next thing you know, it hurts like it just happened. There are occasions - holidays and family gatherings - where the effects of a past painful experience will reemerge and trigger emotional pain all over again.

Trauma is a devastating and all too common experience. It influences relationships, self-esteem, self-worth, physical health, mental health, and overall well-being, and chronic trauma can induce lifelong maladaptive patterns. What can make trauma even more devastating is when victims are retraumatized in some way, as it immediately launches them into their past, evoking feelings of powerlessness, grief, and pain. Retraumatization can feel as if the original traumatic experience is occurring all over again.