The Existential Psychology of Trauma

What Contemporary Psychology can Learn From Kierkegaard

Daniel Lehewych, M.A
The Apeiron Blog
Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

You will be hard-pressed to find someone who has not experienced some form of trauma or tragedy in their lives. Whether it is directly experienced by oneself, or by a loved one, those who have not fallen prey to the worst that Being has to offer are in the minority.

Two Ways of Interpreting Trauma and the Domino Effect

Traumatic events are accompanied by our interpretations of them, and our interpretations are not always consistent with one another. Specifically, we tend to interpret our past wounds in two generic ways: one which despairs over the trauma, and another which uses trauma as a springboard for personal growth.

Let’s give an example: I’ve personally been the victim of an indiscriminate physical assault. On some occasions, I have interpreted this event as one worth lamenting over. “This is how people are and I can’t take it.” I’d be lying if I said such a thought has never occurred to me — and I’d be doubly lying if I said such thoughts have, at times, made it hard for me to get out of bed in the morning.

But on other occasions, I’ve utilized this event — both in my thoughts and in my actions — to begin training in combat sports, which has been…

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Published in The Apeiron Blog

An easy to read philosophical space that aims to elicit discussion and debate on matters of the universe.

Written by Daniel Lehewych, M.A

Philosopher | Author | Bylines: Big Think, Newsweek, PsychCentral