Emotional trauma is an invisible wound. When the trauma isn’t primary (such as a child watching a parent being beaten up by another parent) it’s called “vicarious”. Emotional trauma can take the form of flashbacks to frightening scenes as well as intrusive, distressing thoughts. Nightmares, sleeplessness and emotional numbness (a form of self-protection) are also common aspects of emotional trauma. This doesn’t imply any weakness on the part of people suffering emotional trauma – it is part of the human psychological make-up.

Source: The Irish Times October 31, 2019 06:00 UTC