Misconceptions
Many myths about trauma can make survivors feel misunderstood or invalidated. Here are a few common ones:
“If it didn’t leave a physical injury, it’s not real trauma.”
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Emotional and psychological harm can be just as damaging as physical harm.
“Only life or death events count as trauma.”
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Trauma is about how an event impacts you, not whether others consider it “big enough.”
“If it happened a long time ago, you should be over it by now.”
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Trauma has no expiration date. Your brain and body process safety on their own timeline.
“Other people had it worse, so what happened to you doesn’t count.”
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Trauma isn’t a competition. Your pain is valid, even if someone else’s story looks different.
“You should be able to move on if you just try harder.”
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Healing is not about willpower. It’s about safety, support, and time. Forcing yourself to “get over it” can actually slow recovery.
“If you don’t remember everything clearly, it must not have been that bad.”
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Memory loss, gaps, or fog are actually common trauma responses. Your brain sometimes protects you by softening or blocking details.
Challenging these misconceptions helps survivors reclaim their truth and feel empowered to seek support.