overwhelming trauma

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overwhelming trauma" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant and intense emotional or psychological distress caused by a distressing event or series of events. Example: "After experiencing overwhelming trauma from the accident, she sought professional help to cope with her feelings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Oh, well, I guess that's one way to recover from an overwhelming trauma: reconstruct it, down to the last drop.

The New Yorker

The biggest change is the waning of the initial impact: the shocked drama and overwhelming trauma of the disaster in all its immediacy.

The New Yorker

One expert likened the work to that of archaeologists as they sift a site, albeit one of the most recent and overwhelming trauma.

Independent

The narrative of mutual romantic love may serve as a "cover story" for overwhelming trauma, including, perhaps, the trauma of having sexual feelings for an animal.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

In the months that followed, I dealt with my overwhelming trauma by ramping up an already robust pot regimen with ecstasy, which had flooded into my town along with the rave scene.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Although there remain a large proportion of trauma victims who die early from overwhelming injury, trauma patients who survive their initial injury do not die from their injury per se, but from an overwhelming inflammatory dysregulation leading to organ dysfunction, nosocomial infection, and ultimately multiorgan failure [ 2, 3].

Critical Care

But the loss is overwhelming and the trauma is deep.

Unicef

The overwhelming majority of hand trauma resulted in soft tissue injury.

The Journal of Hand Surgery: British & European Volume

In PTSD, victims are subjected to such overwhelming and horrible emotional trauma that they are unable to regain stability with typical psychological coping mechanisms.

Huffington Post

There is a danger that this reporting bias influences key staff such as social workers, doctors and teachers on older children, when the overwhelming risk of major trauma and death occurs in the first few months of life.

Emergency Medicine Journal

Still, overwhelming is overwhelming.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing personal experiences or events, use "overwhelming trauma" to convey the intensity and profound impact of the situation. This phrase is particularly effective in narratives where you want to emphasize the severity of the emotional or psychological distress.

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming trauma" to describe minor inconveniences or everyday stressors. This can diminish the impact of the phrase and trivialize genuine experiences of trauma. Reserve it for situations involving significant emotional or psychological distress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming trauma" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "overwhelming" modifies the noun "trauma". It describes the intensity and impact of a traumatic experience. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "overwhelming trauma" is a grammatically sound and valid expression used to describe experiences of significant emotional and psychological distress. Ludwig AI validates the phrase's proper usage. While relatively rare, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. It is crucial to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the intensity and impact of the trauma warrant such a strong descriptor. Alternatives like "severe psychological distress" or "profound emotional shock" may be considered depending on the desired nuance and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense traumatic experience

Replaces "overwhelming" with "intense" while maintaining the core meaning, offering a slightly less emphatic alternative.

deep-seated trauma

Emphasizes the long-lasting and deeply rooted nature of the trauma.

severe psychological distress

Replaces "trauma" with a more clinical term and emphasizes the psychological impact, altering the tone slightly.

acute psychological distress

Uses more formal and clinical language to describe the immediate and severe psychological impact.

debilitating trauma

Focuses on the disabling effects of the trauma, changing the emphasis to the resulting impairment.

profound emotional shock

Substitutes "overwhelming" with "profound" and "trauma" with "emotional shock", highlighting the emotional depth of the experience.

severe emotional upheaval

Highlights the disruptive and chaotic nature of the emotional experience caused by the trauma.

crushing emotional burden

Emphasizes the weight and burden associated with the trauma, shifting the focus to the ongoing impact.

extreme emotional suffering

Highlights the painful and distressing nature of the emotional experience following trauma.

overpowering psychological impact

Focuses on the psychological consequences of an overwhelming event, rather than the event itself.

FAQs

How can I use "overwhelming trauma" in a sentence?

You can use "overwhelming trauma" to describe experiences that cause significant emotional or psychological distress. For example: "After experiencing "intense traumatic experience", she sought professional help to cope with her feelings."

What phrases can I use instead of "overwhelming trauma"?

Alternatives to "overwhelming trauma" include phrases like "severe psychological distress", "profound emotional shock", or "intense traumatic experience", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "overwhelming trauma" in formal writing?

Yes, "overwhelming trauma" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in contexts discussing mental health, psychology, or personal narratives where the severity of the experience needs to be emphasized. However, consider the audience and purpose to ensure it aligns with the overall tone and objective.

What distinguishes "overwhelming trauma" from regular stress or sadness?

"Overwhelming trauma" refers to a specific type of experience that causes significant emotional and psychological distress, often leading to long-term effects. Unlike regular stress or sadness, it involves a profound disruption of a person's ability to cope and function, often requiring professional intervention. It is more than just a "crushing emotional burden".