Karen W. Arenson
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Trauma is the Greek word for "wound". Although the Greeks used the term only for physical injuries, nowadays trauma is just as likely to refer to emotional wounds. We now know that a traumatic event can leave psychological symptoms long after any physical injuries have healed. The psychological reaction to severe emotional trauma now has an established name: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It usually occurs after an extremely stressful event, such as wartime combat, a natural disaster, or sexual or physical abuse; its symptoms include depression, anxiety, flashbacks, and recurring nightmares.
Examples of trauma in a Sentence
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
Agape is a healing agent to the traumas of life and a metabolism booster for whole vessels.
—Charity Lashai, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
As a result, American Robot confronts his religious traumas and complex family structures to deconstruct the story of American exceptionalism and upholster the founding hopes of its culture.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Director Malcolm Washington wrote a new opening scene set in 1911 to link that broader generational trauma to the characters’ lives in 1936, when the main action is set.
—Stuart Miller, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Trauma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trauma. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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Medical Definition
M. R. Eichelberger
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