Trauma has entered popular parlance in the last two decades, diminishing its centrality and salience in human lives (see the editor's Introduction to this encyclopedia). However, trauma is a dominant concept, the cloud over our happiness, the area of struggle for survival, the area between catastrophe and death.

Definition of Terms Related to Trauma

Before addressing trauma itself, let us define some terms used in conjunction with trauma. They are often confused with trauma itself.

Stress is an unpleasant state of strain, tension, or being taxed. In stress, physical, psychological, and social life-enhancing processes are challenged but not permanently dislodged. The source of stress is called a stressor, and the person is said to be stressed. The context of stress is a stressful situation or a crisis. However, ...

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