05/05/2025
May is Mental Health Awareness Month 🌿
Let’s talk about trauma—both Big T and little t.
When we hear the word trauma, many people think of “big T” events—things like abuse, war, natural disasters, or major accidents. These are undeniably life-altering experiences that deserve support and healing.
But “little t” trauma matters too—and it often gets dismissed.
These are the subtle, chronic, or smaller-scale experiences that leave a deep emotional impact over time. Things like:
Being constantly criticized as a child
Feeling excluded or rejected by peers
Growing up in a household where emotions weren’t talked about
Having your needs consistently minimized, misunderstood, or ignored
Little t trauma often gets invalidated with messages like:
“You’re too sensitive.”
“Other people had it worse.”
“You should be over that by now.”
But here’s the truth: Your pain is valid even if someone else had it “worse.”
Trauma isn’t about comparing wounds—it’s about understanding how your nervous system was affected and what healing looks like for you.
At At the Roots Counseling, I believe healing starts when we stop minimizing our pain and start getting curious about it.
💚 This month, let’s honor all the ways we carry pain—and all the ways we can heal.
