Welcome to the second instalment of our five-part series on Presenting Problems, focusing this time on trauma. As noted in our last issue on burnout, mental health terms can be difficult to define now that they’ve become so widely used, especially on social media. While broader conversations about mental health are positive, they can make terms like “trauma” feel vague or diluted.
The world is undeniably challenging and full of risk, particularly for those in areas of political unrest or oppression, but how do we make sense of trauma? Are we as traumatized as we seem to think we are, or are we too quick to see ourselves as overwhelmed and helpless, undermining our own resilience?
What is trauma?
Trauma is often described as any distressing event that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. We naturally think of intense experiences such as terrorist attacks, violent assaults, or natural disasters—sometimes called “Big-T traumas”—which can impact every area of a person’s being. Emotional symptoms can range from anger and anxiety to numbness or low mood. Mentally, trauma can disrupt thinking and leave people confused. Recent research is also increasingly showing how trauma is stored in the body, leading to tension, restlessness, aches, or numbness. Spiritually, it can profoundly challenge beliefs about God’s goodness.
Less obvious, but equally impactful, are “Small-T traumas.” These are often cumulative, subtle, and tied to a person’s inner world rather than a single external event. Childhood emotional neglect, bullying, or poverty, and adult experiences like toxic workplaces or social isolation, can produce symptoms similar to Big-T traumas.
Big-T and Small-T traumas often intersect. At High Meadow, we often see people struggling with a recent adversity—such as a team conflict, critical incident or bereavement—where the pain is amplified by echoes of earlier experiences of fear, rejection, or isolation.
The essence of trauma has key elements: it is overwhelming, it leaves individuals feeling powerless, and the symptoms do not naturally subside, trapping people in repetitive, negative patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions. And while some people may be too quick to self-diagnose as traumatized, we also need to recognize that the massive erosion of community and family structures has significantly undermined our capacity to cope with life’s challenges.
The road to recovery
For Christians, Scripture offers abundant acknowledgment of trauma. Job’s story depicts catastrophic loss and suffering; the Israelites’ slavery, desert wandering, and exile illustrate cumulative abuse and despair; David cries out from loneliness, betrayal, and fear; and Jesus experienced profound physical and emotional pain, including betrayal by close friends. Amid these narratives, God’s faithfulness remains evident: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Ps 23:4).
Yet, knowing this truth intellectually is different from helping someone experience it emotionally and physically. In church settings, it can be hard for trauma survivors when well-meaning believers offer Bible verses without accompanying support and understanding. Christian psychologist Diane Langberg calls this the “splat effect,” where words of Scripture bounce off without creating connection.
While Christian and secular approaches differ in many ways, it is universally accepted that healing from trauma is relational. Recovery begins with stabilization: survivors need clear information about what is happening to them, combined with safe, consistent, and authentic presence. Langberg emphasizes that this incarnational presence often achieves more than words or scripture alone in the early stages.
Once safety is established, survivors can explore their experiences more deeply and connect them with God’s loving presence. The final phase involves integrating the trauma into a broader life narrative, stabilizing a post-trauma identity, and internalizing truths about personal worth and God’s love.
At High Meadow, we recognize that trauma is complex, often layered, and deeply personal. Understanding it as both a disruption of life and an opportunity for relational and spiritual growth can provide hope. Recovery is not instant, but through compassionate presence, reflection, and integration, survivors can reclaim resilience, rebuild their sense of self, and discover a new experience of God’s steadfast care.
