A traumatic experience can come in many forms, but our survival instinct is surprisingly basic. We get scared, we get tough, we get out of there. But once these immediate ramifications of traumatic incidents fade from our reality, there are longer-term residual effects that linger. The ways in which we process trauma are as varied as our psychological landscapes. We may break down, we may rise up, or we may block it out completely.
Take the example of survivors’ guilt. This is a phenomenon in which you endure a near brush with death, only to be plagued by doubt and regret following the incident. When others die in a plane crash, for instance, those who were spared may be clouded by mixed emotions. Feelings of why them and not me or I could have done more to save others can become thunderous and pervasive.
