Is it just me, or does trauma not always look like someone “overreacting” to their triggers?

Sometimes, it looks quiet.

Sometimes, it looks calm.

Sometimes, it looks like someone who has simply learned to survive in silence.

Sometimes, it looks like a happy face.

Sometimes, you know something's wrong but don't know what. It's just unknown or not that deep

Let's take most of our African upbringing for example; You sit down to do your assignment, and you're asked "what's 2+2?" and you don't know the answer, you're crying wells because the one meant to teach you just keeps scolding you till you manage to say "Four".

That's a traumatic event, especially if it happens consistently, it may not seem like a traumatic event till when you realize that your "I'll do it myself" or "Don't help me" attitude started growing from that event.

We say it's our upbringing but let's look back to past events, recall so we can identify what situation made us who we are.

Identify and sit down with what you have- you can journal your thoughts or see a therapist.

Every insignificant event could turn out to be very significant.

Is it when you neighbors or parents made a comment and it unconsciously stuck?

Or when your teachers in school insulted you badly for not knowing a math problem.

Because it's culturally normalized doesn't mean it's not going to leave a mark.

Even the movies we watch condition most of who we are and how we see things.

When we retrace our steps, healing will be inevitable and only when we heal can we heal others.