Trauma
TRAW-muh
/ˈtrɔːmə/
A deeply distressing or disturbing experience, or physical injury.
Can refer to both physical wounds and severe psychological distress caused by a shocking or damaging event. The psychological sense is more common in modern usage.
The story behind the word. The word "trauma" comes directly from the Greek word "trauma," which literally meant "a wound." Initially, it was used in English primarily in a medical sense for physical injuries. However, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its psychological meaning, referring to a deeply distressing emotional shock, became increasingly prominent, especially after the study of war neuroses.
Word relationships
- ordeal: A severe trial or experience, but less emphasis on lasting psychological damage.
- shock: A sudden disturbing event, but "trauma" implies a deeper, more lasting impact.
- healing: The process of becoming sound or healthy again.
- serenity: The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
Commonly confused with
- stress: Stress is a normal reaction to pressure; trauma is a response to a deeply distressing event that overwhelms coping abilities.
Word family
- traumatic (adjective): emotionally disturbing or distressing.
- traumatize (verb): to subject to trauma.
Collocations
- emotional trauma
- psychological trauma
- childhood trauma
- physical trauma
- severe trauma
- combat trauma
Example sentences
- "The accident left him with significant emotional trauma that required years of therapy." Describing a severe emotional event.
- "Patients suffering from severe head trauma often require extensive rehabilitation." From a medical report.
Memory hook
Think of a "TRAW-muh" (draw-ma) that causes a deep wound, like a dramatic event. Deep wound.
When not to use
For minor upsets or inconveniences; it implies a profound and lasting impact.
Fun facts
- The term "shell shock" used during WWI was an early, less precise term for what we now understand as a form of psychological trauma, often PTSD.
Related words
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