Decentering Traditional Lenses of Trauma

Trauma Defined

If an individual were to sustain a wound to their body, they would likely seek medical attention as soon as possible. The wound would be visible, and thus would warrant medical attention to treat it. The healing process would be observable, and the wound would leave a scar in its wake or perhaps not. Acting the same way as a physical wound, trauma could also be considered as a wound; however, trauma is a wound that is not visible to the naked eye. It is difficult to articulate using words, and there is no band-aid to help the healing process. Likewise, determining the best treatment option can also prove difficult, and if left unattended and without proper care, it has the capacity to worsen or the potential to become more deeply ingrained (Trauma-Informed: The Trauma Toolkit, 2013).

Trauma can be defined as the lasting emotional response resulting from experiencing an event or series of events, or stressors, that overwhelms an individual’s capacity to cope with the experience (Center for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], 2022; Manitoba Trauma Information and Education Centre [MTIEC], 2022a). Experiencing trauma may not necessarily leave visible scars in its wake. However, the emotional toll of such can have a devastating impact on an individual’s sense of self and affecting their overall functional capacity as an individual. This can potentially have a lingering impact upon future generations (MTIEC, 2022a).