Some people use the word trauma very loosely. They describe any range of upsetting events as trauma. On the other end of the spectrum, some think that only the most extraordinary circumstances can constitute trauma. They believe that producers will be lining up to make a movie about your life if anything so truly remarkable were to happen. As with most things in life, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.  The definition of trauma can vary depending on the person that you ask, but one aspect is foundational: trauma has a permanent effect. It is not something that simply slips your mind after a few years. A traumatic event permanently changes aspects of your psychology. A traumatic event divides your life into two periods: the time before and the time after. Of course, that is not to say that you can’t overcome a tragedy and move on. It simply means that the trauma made an indelible mark on the course of your life.