Preview

Personal Narrative: How Trauma Changed My Life

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
812 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Personal Narrative: How Trauma Changed My Life
Trauma: a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time. Have you ever experienced a trauma? I made it nearly nineteen years without enduring a traumatic experience. Yes, an affair leading into a divorce is considered a trauma. When the man I grew up idolizing left my family for a twenty-year-old girl, it left me mentally and emotionally unstable. As many times as my parents told me that their problems were their problems and that they shouldn’t affect me; this affected me. My life before the affair was great and carefree, however, now I’m not sure that I’ll ever get back there. It is literally as if I lived a different life before the trauma.
My mom and dad divorced when I was just a baby. Although I have always loved my real daddy, I also had an amazing step-daddy. My mom brought Brandon into
…show more content…
I have always been trusting and naïve in every sort of relationship. Now I find myself questioning everyone’s motives. I have a faithful boyfriend who has stood beside me through all of this, and yet I can’t find it in myself to trust him. Not only do I have severe trust issues now, I also have severe anxiety and some depression. I worry about my mom and what comes next for us continuously. I am hurt; I am angry; I am sad; and, I am broken. I don’t even recognize the girl I have become, or the life I am living.
Obviously my life has been changed. Before this traumatic experience I thought I had everything figured out, and now I am just figuring out how to get by day by day. I thought I was strong, and now I feel so weak. I have learned through this experience never to put all of my trust and heart into someone because they will fail me. The only one who will never fail me is my God. Through all of the stress and heartache, I know the Lord will bring me peace again after this storm. I believe in His perfect timing and in His perfect way, my mom and I will be okay

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    “WHOA WHOA WHOA THIS IS BALONEY MAN!” that is something I say whenever I am frustrated. People have always told me sometimes the best way to learn something is through failure. People value things they have accomplished differently. Often the people whom are naturally adept at things do not realize how much of a struggle it can be for others. Many times when people have told me that if you are going to fall, fall forward. Do not let your insecurities, doubts, and pride get in the way of improving yourself. In brief, there can always be a way to improve yourself.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    With ever story of victory, comes a drowning idea of failure. Throughout our live, these battles are fought, taking not only mental strength, but physical as well. Some of these battles are chosen, while the rest flank from behind. With this in mind, a story of victory must be told, on behalf of my Aunt, Joenell. Her battle took place in April, of 2009, she went to the Suttee Delta hospital, in Antioch California for a doctor’s visit, for fear that something was wrong, during this visit she informed her doctor that she felt a not on her left breast. Soon after, she had a mammogram, and an ultrasound done, revealing three cancerous lumps. As the doctor went into detail, she started to realize the gravity of the situation. For the first time; at the age of 59, she was confronted with the most life threating event she had ever faced. So for a second opinion, she went to the Epic Cancer center, also in Antioch California. Certainly, the last thing anyone would like to hear during a doctor’s visit, she knew there would be some decisions to be made, time to study up.…

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What is trauma you ask? The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing, and that overwhelm people’s ability to cope, leaving them powerless (Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice). Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical (American Psychological Association). Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms (American Psychological Association). In addition to trauma being a strong problem it isn't a short time thing you can get trauma for life causing it to be life threatening. In the book Night by Elie Wiesel and the excerpt All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque show how trauma…

    • 127 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people would say that growing up with parents who could not speak english would be to my disadvantage, but I disagree. Growing up I always believed it to be exhausting having to translate and never really feeling normal. I believed it to be dragging and many times protested against it, but besides it being tiring, I also felt embarrassed. Yeah embarrassed of having to deal with my parents and not being able to communicate with them like other kids did with their parents. As I grew older the issue only grew because at that point I began to resent them for putting me through what I believed to be embarrassing moments of confusion, but all of this changed when I finally realized that my parents did the best they could with what they had.…

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I have experienced winters with and without snow. I have experienced both diverse, and homogeneous worlds. I have friends from boarding schools, as well as, friends from schools in urban neighborhoods. And I love it.…

    • 91 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Trauma is defined as; an extremely distressing experience that causes severe emotional shock and may have long-lasting psychological effects (Encarta Dictionary, 2013). Hurricane Katrina was one of, if not, the most devastating natural disaster to hit the United States (US); while being the costliest and the third deadliest (The Weather Channel, 2009). The physical, social, economic, and psychological/emotional stressors associated with Katrina may not follow the typical pattern of reaction from a post traumatic incident; the reaction associated with extreme stress may manifest over months or even years (American Psychological…

    • 2738 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    My mother, “Regina Hopkins,” has been a positive influence in my life. She has raised 6 kids all by herself as well as earned a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a City College in Gainesville, Florida. My mother has been through pretty much everything a person can go through outside of war and was still able to be there and provide for all 6 of her kids. In high school, my mother wanted to play football and couldn't because she was a girl and back-in-the-day women were not allowed to play football with the guys. However, she remained strong by raising 6 kids and independently took care of all of us on her own. My mother has several qualities that I would love to develop. The first quality she has is balance; she certainly knows how to make…

    • 266 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Right after the start of my junior year, I found out that a former teammate of mine had been in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.…

    • 202 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    My senior year of high school I received a traumatic brain injury in October while playing field hockey. What I assumed to be a minor injury with a quick recovery, turned into a yearlong battle to return to normalcy that has left me with lingering effects. The injury not only caused headaches and illness, but it prevented me from using electronics, spending time with friends, going to school, reading, and participating in sports. Amidst all these setbacks I turned to one of my favorite quotes by Lailah Gifty Akita to help me through: “Keep strong and stay determined. You are capable of overcoming the challenge.” I responded to my injury the best I could: with positivity, appreciation, and determination. I used my abundant free time to discover…

    • 250 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Post Trauma In Veterans

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In my own definition a trauma can be described as an event that upsets the individual’s normal causing psychological, physical, and emotional harm. A trauma has different meanings to each individual however, anyone can experience a trauma. Bessel A. van der Kolk an expert in the field of traumatic stress states that, “experiencing trauma is an essential part of being human; history is written in blood” (Van der Kolk, McFlarlane, &Weisaeth, 2007). Some examples of a trauma include rape, physical abuse, violence, war, and injury. A trauma does not always require the victim to be to be the one experiencing the initial threat in fact; the victim may simply be a witness or a person offering help during the traumatic event. A DSM-IV criterion…

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Everyone in their lives overcomes adversity whether it is from work or disability it is never easy. About a year ago, I faced my own near fatal struggle with adversity. Life had become more of a burden than an adventure and nothing seemed to be looking up. Things progressed and events occurred that produced life changing results. After nearly losing my life I realized that things needed to change, mindsets needed to change. The one thing that had not changed was my stubbornness.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    It’s extraordinary to think about how we take so much for granted - another belief we take for granted is that every night the stars will shine. When you wake up in the morning and make plans for the day, you never really contemplate those plans changing entirely in the blink of an eye. I had never thought much about it, personally, until I was faced with Death himself. I don't think anyone really contemplates tragedy until it knocks on their front door. In fact, it doesn’t even knock – it forces itself in and threatens to leave you with nothing but heartache and suffering for the remainder of your miserable life. Traumatic events can occur in numerous ways, at any time in one’s life. Some are lucky enough to get away with them. Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky.…

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    One of the worst injuries that has ever occurred to me was having my fingers burned by extremely hot water. It was a cold, dark day at 7:31pm, and it was just me, my older brother, Gideon, and my younger brother, Theodore. I was 9 years old, Theodore was 2 years old, and Gideon was 12 years old. Every day I would drink some hot tea, because I tended to be extremely sensitive to the cold. And when I say sensitive, I am talking about that if I was drinking regular temperature water, I would be shivering probably throughout the rest of the night. Gideon was doing homework at the basement, while Theodore was sleeping in my parents’ bedroom. I was making myself some hot tea, when I accidentally poured hot water on my hand for 2 seconds. Now 2 seconds seem like nothing, but when something like…

    • 1020 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Walking out of class with her new friend Allison, the only one at this school that seemed to really understand her, she said ‘What does she mean I have to live life? My boyfriend was lacrosse captain! I was prom queen! When I was sixteen I got attacked by a dog at the winter formal and had to stay in hospital for a week! Not many people can say that!’…

    • 1440 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    When I was younger, I typically received the things I wanted, things such as toys – being that I was an only child – and never worried about hearing the answer, “No”. I had this insane idea that the world revolved around me. Although I still had the concept in my head, that it was all about me when I was informed I would be an older sister, I knew that nothing would be the same. Before I was a sister, I never took anyone else into consideration, and I was never told to do otherwise. I was around four years old, when this news has changed my life forever.…

    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays