Traumatise for Dummies

Traumatise is a word that we hear quite often, especially when people talk about their past experiences or difficult events that have greatly affected them. To put it simply, when someone says they have been traumatized, it means that something really bad or scary happened to them, which has left a deep and lasting impact on their emotional well-being. Okay, let me expand on this a bit more. Imagine you have a favorite toy, let's say a teddy bear that you love so much. You've had it for as long as you can remember, and it brings you comfort and happiness whenever you see it. Now, one day, something terrible happens. Let's say that your teddy bear accidentally gets torn apart. You might feel really upset and sad because the teddy bear is very important to you. This feeling might stay with you for some time, but eventually, you'll be able to let go of those emotions and move on. It's like a passing phase of sadness that fades away as time goes by. But, what if something much more serious and frightening happens? Imagine that you're happily playing outside with your friends, and suddenly you witness a car accident right in front of you. It's a scary sight, and you feel terrified because you've never seen anything like it before. This experience could traumatize you. When something traumatic happens, it can feel like your emotions become stuck and don't fade away with time. It's like being stuck in a rollercoaster ride that keeps going up and down, and you can't get off. You might have nightmares, struggle to concentrate at school, or feel really anxious and on edge all the time. This is because the traumatic event has made a huge impact on your mind and body, and it can take a lot of time and support to heal from it. So, to sum it up, "traumatise" means that something really bad happened to someone and it left a lasting impact on their emotions and well-being. It's like a wound that takes longer to heal than a simple scrape or a bruise. And just like with physical wounds, it's important to seek help from caring people, like family members, friends, or professionals, to help us heal from the emotional wounds caused by trauma.