An alternative definition of trauma.

Over the years, coming from my own understanding and own trauma, I have formulated an alternative definition of trauma.  A definition that works for me and hopefully encompasses all the different aspect of it. Trauma runs up and down a continuum, from low grade to intense, but the mechanism is the same. Trauma happens whenever we have an understanding or an idea of how a situation should/could unfold and we are emotionally invested in the outcome. This could be anything from the nature of the traffic to the office in the morning, to the lifespan of a loved one. With one million iterations of expectations in between.  Trauma happens when I think I know how the day will unfold and suddenly it doesn't go the way I thought. Trauma can be measured from disappointment through to devastation, from irritation all the way to absolute hopelessness and powerlessness. It is when something happened that should not have happened.