The same unhappy event in itself is not necessarily destined to morph into trauma. Take this example: a child is ridiculed by his teacher, unfairly and harshly, for something he did not do. This could be terribly painful, infuriating, shaming. But as yet is not necessarily a trauma. There is a possibility of intervention that must be seized with both hands!
Trauma is a one-two punch. In our example, the first punch has landed—the bad experience with the teacher happened. But the second punch can be replaced by something curative!
In this excellent article, Rachel Alexander explains how, in trauma, two things occur: (1) The event itself (primary event) which can be horrible and injurious and (2) how the event is handled immediately afterward (secondary). The attunement, sensitivity, authenticity of the one to whom the “victim” turns—usually someone in authority having greater power, such as a parent or a caregiver—makes all the difference.
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