"Trauma is not what happens to us, it's what we hold inside,
in the absence of an empathetic witness."
Peter Levine
Trauma is not exclusively a major event. It can be an occurrence on a minor level that becomes wedged deeply in our emotional bank. To someone else, it may not even be noticeable; but on a personal level, it may be devastating and agonizing.
When not witnessed, a simple incident may be repressed with excruciating pain. It can be relived mentally, triggering and deepening the wound. Even though it may be a slight occurrence to others, the unaddressed damage can become paralyzing.
When we are able to accept the need for healing, we can bring our pain to the surface sharing with a trusted friend, therapist, creative expression, meditation or the written word. Once we begin to release without judgement, a glimpse of hope can move us beyond the memory, propeling us forward.
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