After learning about circumcision, another man said, I don t want to be angry about this. Those who have feelings about their circumcision are generally afraid to express them because their feelings may be dismissed or ridiculed. When asked why he had not revealed his circumcision feelings before, one man said, I would be looked upon as strange or else people would toss it off lightly. Another said, It s not something that anyone talks about. If it is talked about, it s in a snickering, comical way which I find disturbing.
People laugh about it as if there is something funny going on.
Verbal expression of feelings requires conscious awareness. Because early traumas are generally unconscious, associated feelings are expressed nonverbally through behavioral, emotional, and physiological forms. An example of an attitude resulting from childhood trauma is You can t count on anything or anyone to protect you.