Have you ever watched a movie or TV show that has trauma in it, and wondered if it’s something that only happens to people who were in the military or have experienced sexual assault? The truth is that many other people suffer from trauma, and it most often goes undetected. I’ll explain why in the space below.

Where Hollywood Misses the Mark on Trauma

First of all, trauma is something that is experienced by a great many people. Not only do we have a lot of it here in the US, but it is very prevalent throughout the world. When you see depictions of people who are war veterans with PTSD, and sexual assault victims with it on television and movies, you’re only seeing a very small fraction of the number of people who suffer from this common affliction. Sure, PTSD happens with big, terrible experiences, such as war and rape, or other forms of violence, but so many other people experience this and wind up thinking that there’s really isn’t significant for some reason. The fact of the matter is, as the famous psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk put it, trauma occurs when you are “not seen or known.”

Why Hollywood Can’t Depict Trauma Better

When we watch movies or TV shows, we see the dramatized versions of life in general. It is a slice of life, but it tends to be one that is obvious and more of a spectacle. The truth of the matter is that people experience a sense of separation from themselves when people who are important in their lives, such as their parents, or other caregivers don’t see them and treat them for who they are. The only way you can survive psychologically in such instances is to separate from yourself in order to please the people whose impact on your life is so incredibly important. This can’t get captured by a camera, as often the only traces of this may be a blank expression on a child’s face, or a child who goes hiding in a closet, or the child that tries to do anything to please the parent despite what the parent has done to them.

Hollywood Does Deserve Some Credit for Focusing on Trauma

As ham-handed as it often is, Hollywood has made great strides in trying to depict and portray the experience of mental illness in people's lives. For example, television shows such as This is Us and Firefly Lane on Netflix are two examples of shows that really do credibly try to shine a spotlight and increase awareness of trauma and mental illness in general. So that’s a good thing. But the problem is that mental illness is something that is difficult to see, as opposed to someone who you know gets injured in a car accident.

The Invisible Trauma Hollywood Can’t Show

As I mentioned above, most trauma is invisible to the naked eye. Someone who has training, such as me or another mental health professional can detect it more easily than some others. But the fact of the matter remains that unless you talk to somebody, you can’t necessarily know the effect of trauma has had on them.

What To Do If You Feel Trauma Despite Hollywood’s Lack of Portraying It

It’s never a bad idea to reach out for professional help if you feel like you’ve been impacted by trauma. Therapists like me are taught to treat both the ‘big T’ and ‘small T' trauma that has often been the dividing line between what gets shown on TV and movies and what many other people deal with that don’t get a movie or a TV show made about them. Both types are equally important to treat, but often require professional help to deal with. I’ve been treating clients with both types above my entire social work career, and can attest to the importance of getting help and support. There are many good books on the subject, and often even modest help from a therapist like me can make a big difference in your life. The key is that you don’t have to continue to suffer needlessly because you simply have been too afraid to get help up to this point. I encourage you to call the number at the top of the page, or fill out the form below if you live in Texas or Maryland and would like some help. I can get back to you and offer you a free 20 minute phone consult to help give you a better idea about whether I could be of help to you and your situation or not. In any case, I urge you to take the first step, and reach out for help with either me or another clinician, or someone you trust who can help punch you in the right direction toward gaining a better sense of mental health and wholeness in your life.

Visit our page on trauma therapy to find out how Scott can help you cope with trauma.  

About the author:  Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland.  He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin, Texas.  He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.