Tiny Traumas: When You Don’t Know What’s Wrong, but Nothing Feels Quite Right

When left unaddressed, seemingly minor traumas can snowball over time into major problems—including insomnia, binge-eating, and a pervasive, “low-grade sense of ‘what’s the point of trying?’ ”—according to this compassionate guide. Psychologist Arroll (coauthor of The Shrinkology Solution) contends that, while bullying, financial strain, frequent moves, and similar stressors don’t fit classic medical criteria for trauma, they exert cumulative damage on the psyche. When properly handled, however, “small-T traumas” can help readers create “emotional antibodies” that make for a stronger “psychological immune system.” Arroll outlines a process that involves becoming aware of one’s “unique constellation” of traumas, accepting how the trauma has affected one’s life, and drawing on healthy coping strategies, such as maintaining a mood diary, meditating, and developing a healthier bedtime routine. While Arroll’s definition of “tiny traumas” is sometimes so broad as to lose specificity, her argument for taking seriously “the small, daily things that drain our vitality, spark, and potential” is convincing and gives welcome due to the subtler pain points of modern life. This will resonate with those who feel caught in an “undercurrent of constant melancholy” and can’t quite put their finger on why. (Jan.)