Severe physical injuries or deeply disturbing psychological experiences that cause lasting emotional damage.
From Greek 'trauma' meaning wound, from 'titrosko' (to wound or pierce). Originally used only for physical wounds, the psychological meaning developed in the late 19th century through medical usage.
The extension of 'trauma' from physical to psychological wounds represents a major shift in understanding mental health. Freud and other early psychologists recognized that emotional wounds could be as real and lasting as physical ones, revolutionizing how we think about human experience.
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