Overcoming Major Trauma In Life
By: Floyd Mori
Tags: World War II, Trauma, Asian American, Life, Problems

Overcoming Major Trauma In Life

Painting of the Topaz, Utah, Camp (Image in the public domain)

A huge injustice was enacted against Japanese Americans

Into each life some rain will fall. No one will complete a sojourn on this earth without a number of problems coming his way. Sometimes the problems can be quite serious and cause trauma. Trials and trauma are common in every person’s life. No one is immune from such events and circumstances which can cause havoc in life. Traumatic events can change the course of one’s life.

The coronavirus pandemic which is raging through the world shows us that problems and trauma can come to anyone. No one can escape without trials and trouble.

The loss of a family member or close friend can cause trauma. Suffering a severe setback in the financial realm can create huge problems. The break up of a relationship or another type of painful experience may be a very difficult thing with which to cope. Living in a poor neighborhood in a life of poverty can cause untold stress and hardship.

Trauma can come in many forms including physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, and almost any type of problem imaginable. When problems become severe, trauma can occur.

Looking at trauma as a positive event may not seem logical or possible. However, trauma is something from which you can survive. Sometimes people come out better in the end for having conquered the trauma. You can overcome the issue. You may discover in the process that you have a great capacity to fight adversity and achieve success. You may find that you have a lot of potential which was lacking previously. People can overcome trauma to become better people and live an abundant life. You can end up a stronger person.

Enduring trials and persevering in the face of adversity and trauma may be difficult, but it can be done. It may require a change of attitude. Having a positive attitude will be helpful. Negativity will pull a person down. Believing in oneself and realizing the capability within you is beneficial. You are in control, and you can find solutions. You may need to look long and hard for suitable solutions which might include asking people for support. Trust in the caring people around you — friends, family, or professionals.

Sometimes when we see someone else facing trauma, we can only be thankful that it is not us. We would not want such a horrible thing to happen to us or our loved ones. If someone you know is facing extreme trauma, it may be time to reach out and offer assistance.

A major traumatic event happened to American citizens and immigrants of Japanese heritage after the start of World War II. Asian Americans had long suffered from racism, but this was worse. Because the United States was at war with Japan, people of Japanese descent were immediately looked upon as enemies and potential spies. Even though most of them were citizens born in the United States of America, 120,000 people living on the West Coast of the continental United States were forcibly removed from their homes. They were taken to temporary assembly centers which were generally horse tracks or fairgrounds where they lived in horse stalls until the camps were completed in remote and desolate regions of the country. These people faced major trauma from being uprooted from their homes and losing their earthly possessions. They lost their freedom by being unjustly held as prisoners. It was a racist act which caused huge emotional problems for those incarcerated. Although they faced this horrible trauma, most of the people persevered. They did what they could to make the best of a terrible situation. Some people never recovered from the trauma. Others were able to come back from the trauma and eventually live productive lives. They had to have hope and faith that their lot in life would get better. They had to persevere, and most did survive the ordeal. Japanese Americans want to make sure that no one else will have to face the same trauma as this injustice caused.

Trauma will come to everyone at some time during each lifetime. Facing it head on will help to recover and not become a true victim. Keeping a positive mental attitude during difficult times is not easy, but it is essential for growth and progress. Looking to the future with hope and faith will help people to be successful.

[Source: The Japanese American Story As Told Through A Collection of Speeches and Articles, www. thejapaneseamericanstory.com]