People describe trauma in lots of different ways. Trauma is something bad that has happened. There are different levels of trauma and people are affected in different ways. How a person reacts to a traumatic event is what is actually treated in therapy. Reactions to experiencing a traumatic event include depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, being jumpy, nervousness, fear or phobias, nightmares, flashbacks of the event, easily crying, anger, substance use, sudden mood changes, loss of focus, suicide or suicidal thoughts, loss of joy for life and doubting oneself. A severe reaction to trauma is sometimes diagnosed as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Whether or not you have PTSD, there is treatment and relief available for you. You can get past the past. You are not the bad thing that happened to you.
Some examples of severe trauma are things like natural disasters, the death of someone close to you, witnessing a death or severe injury, physical assault and abuse. Other traumatic events can be things like divorce, major changes, a near death experience, hearing a story of a traumatic event, car accidents, childbirth and sometimes experiences from as far back as early childhood.
There are many therapeutic treatments for people who are struggling because of a traumatic event. One of the most effective treatments is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). To practice EMDR a therapist needs extensive specialized training, beyond state licensure as a therapist. I am a trained EMDR therapist and have seen so many people find relief from their symptoms related to trauma. I have found that EMDR in combination with some other interventions works the best for me and my clients.
If you have experienced a traumatic event and feel like you "can't get over it", it is important that you seek help. These symptoms dont always just go away by themselves. If you feel the symptoms getting worse or are noticing new symptoms, it is even more important that you address this problem and get back to living your life.