traumatizing
Causing lasting damage
Traumatizing means causing lasting psychological harm or distress.
An event that is traumatizing overwhelms the mind's ability to cope, leaving emotional wounds that persist: Witnessing the accident was traumatizing for everyone involved.
The word is often used more loosely for anything deeply upsetting or disturbing: That movie was traumatizing.
Extremely distressing or disturbing
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- horrifyingCausing extreme fear
- disturbingCausing mental unease
- nightmarishFrightening like bad dreams
devastating · shocking · distressing · scarring · unforgettable · overwhelming · shattering · gut-wrenching
Cruel or violent treatment
- violenceHarmful physical force
- accidentUnintended harmful event
- assaultViolent offensive act
- neglectFailure to provide care
war · disaster · loss · betrayal · abandonment · bullying · witness · victim
Restoration of health
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- overcomingDefeating a challenge
- processingSystematic operation on data
survivor · counseling · support · EMDR · psychotherapy · growth · rebuilding · reclaiming
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- triggersCauses or activates
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
numbness · avoidance · anxiety · depression
harrowing
Extremely distressing or disturbing
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- horrifyingCausing extreme fear
- disturbingCausing mental unease
nightmarish · devastating · shocking · distressing · scarring · unforgettable · overwhelming · shattering · gut-wrenching · soul-crushing
abuse
Cruel or violent treatment
neglect · war · disaster · loss · betrayal · abandonment · bullying · witness · victim · survivor
healing
Restoration of health
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- overcomingDefeating a challenge
processing · survivor · counseling · support · EMDR · psychotherapy · growth · rebuilding · reclaiming · integration
flashbacks
Involuntary vivid memory episodes
- triggersCauses or activates
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
dissociation · numbness · avoidance · anxiety · depression
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- harmharming, injury, hurting, abuse, injuring
traumatizinghealing
Restoration of health
therapeutic · restorative · nurturing · cathartic · empowering
traumatizingheartwarming
Evoking tender positive feelings
uplifting · joyful · delightful · blissful · wonderful
traumatizingcalming
Inducing a settled state
soothing · reassuring · stabilizing · grounding · settling