Trauma is an emotional response to some type of terrible event in a person's life. Types of trauma include physical violence or injury, natural disasters, illnesses, emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, severe loss, bullying, and many other adverse events.  These may be one-time events, multiple instances, or a series of long-lasting repetitive events.

Without addressing past trauma, many people wind up living considerably altered lives as a result of avoiding it.  Trying to ignore it, compartmentalize it or lock it away doesn't solve the problem and the residual effects can be devastating in many ways.