---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trauma is any stressor that occurs in a…"
description: "\"“Trauma is any stressor that occurs in a sudden and forceful way and is experienced as overwhelming.”\" — Stephanie S. Covington"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/stephanie-s-covington-279574_post-traumatic-stres_trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a_2471845.jpg"
---

#  Trauma is any stressor that occurs in a sudden and…

![“Trauma is any stressor that occurs in a sudden and forceful way and is experienced as overwhelming.” quote by Stephanie S. Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/stephanie-s-covington-279574_post-traumatic-stres_trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a_2471845.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/stephanie-s-covington-279574_post-traumatic-stres_trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a_2471845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/stephanie-s-covington-279574_post-traumatic-stres_trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a_2471845.jpg)

> ““Trauma is any stressor that occurs in a sudden and forceful way and is experienced as overwhelming.””

Stephanie S. Covington

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Trauma is a sudden, overwhelming stressor that exceeds a person’s coping capacity, leading to intense distress.

**In simple terms:** Trauma overwhelms coping.

Key Takeaway

Identify and address overwhelming stressors.

Themes

psychology stress overwhelm trauma

Mood

serious informative

Type

Post traumatic stress disorder:1 Posttraumatic-stress-disorder:1 Psychological trauma:1 Ptsd:1 Stressors:1 Trauma:1 Traumatic-stress:1 Traumatized:1 Trauma Stressor:1 Stressor Occurs:1 Experienced Overwhelming:1 Sudden Forceful:1

When to use this quote

- emergency response
- therapy sessions
- support groups

Key Concepts

cognitive response neurobiology clinical definition

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you differentiate trauma from stress?
- What resources help after sudden overwhelm?

A Different Perspective

Not all stressors are traumatic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Post traumatic stress disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/) [Posttraumatic-stress-disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posttraumatic-stress-disorder/) [Psychological trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological-trauma/) [Ptsd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ptsd/) [Stressors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stressors/) [Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma/) [Traumatic-stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traumatic-stress/)

## Related quotes

> [“To take a specific example, a researcher in the Journal of Traumatic Stress interviewed 129 women with documented histories of child sexual abuse that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-walker/to-take-a-specific-example-a-researcher-in-the-journal-of-traumatic/)

Janet Walker

> [“Traumas produce their disintegrating effects in proportion to their intensity, duration and repetition. (1909)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-janet/traumas-produce-their-disintegrating-effects-in-proportion-to-their/)

Pierre Janet

> [“When you have a persistent sense of heartbreak and gutwrench, the physical sensations become intolerable and we will do anything to make those feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/when-you-have-a-persistent-sense-of-heartbreak-and-gutwrench-the/)

[Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/)

> [“Unlike simple stress, trauma changes your view of your life and yourself. It shatters your most basic assumptions about yourself and your world —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unlike-simple-stress-trauma-changes-your-view-of-your-life-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“PTSD is a whole-body tragedy, an integral human event of enormous proportions with massive repercussions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-pease-banitt/ptsd-is-a-whole-body-tragedy-an-integral-human-event-of-enormous/)

Susan Pease Banitt

> [When a flower doesn't bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/when-a-flower-doesn-t-bloom-you-fix-the-environment-in-which-it-grows/)

[Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/)

> [“Because if I am living an honest life, and my eyes are open, and I'm trying my hardest to be good and kind, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-if-i-am-living-an-honest-life-and-my-eyes-are-open-and-i-m/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Being in a state of denial is a universally human response to situations which threaten to overwhelm. People who were abused as children sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-e-olson/being-in-a-state-of-denial-is-a-universally-human-response-to/)

Sarah E. Olson

> [“Complexly traumatized children need to be helped to engage their attention in pursuits that do not remind them of trauma-related triggers and that give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-benamer/complexly-traumatized-children-need-to-be-helped-to-engage-their/)

Sarah Benamer

> [“It was difficult to find information because Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was called shell shock during W.W.II, and when Vietnam Vets were found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-niles/it-was-difficult-to-find-information-because-post-traumatic-stress/)

[Sara Niles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-niles/)

> [“Dr. Peter Levine, who has worked with trauma survivors for twenty-five years, says the single most important factor he has learned in uncovering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-van-m-derbur/dr-peter-levine-who-has-worked-with-trauma-survivors-for-twenty-five/)

[Marilyn Van M. Derbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-van-m-derbur/)

> [“In situations of captivity the perpetrator becomes the most powerful person in the life of the victim, and the psychology of the victim is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/in-situations-of-captivity-the-perpetrator-becomes-the-most-powerful/)

[Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/)

> [“Psychological trauma is an affliction of the powerless. At the moment of trauma, the victim is rendered helpless by overwhelming force. When the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/psychological-trauma-is-an-affliction-of-the-powerless-at-the-moment/)

[Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/)

> [“While we avoid taking credit for success, women leap at the opportunity to take responsibility for failure. Men tend to externalize the reasons for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colette-dowling/while-we-avoid-taking-credit-for-success-women-leap-at-the/)

[Colette Dowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colette-dowling/)

> [“Leaches Ten Tall by Stewart Stafford Don't play this game with me, Predatory whelk of tide pools, Taint me as Rigoletto to a bawd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/leaches-ten-tall-by-stewart-stafford-don-t-play-this-game-with-me/)

[Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/)

## More Post traumatic stress disorder quotes

> [“Support our troops!” we cry, but I say, “Love our veterans!” And when he neglects church, take him cookies anyway. Sing him a song.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chila-woychik/support-our-troops-we-cry-but-i-say-love-our-veterans-and-when-he/)

[Chila Woychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chila-woychik/)

> [“In 2011, actor Johnny Depp told the November issue of Vanity Fair that he felt participating in a photoshoot was akin to rape. "Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-elsworth/in-2011-actor-johnny-depp-told-the-november-issue-of-vanity-fair-that/)

Emma Elsworth

> [“Both incest and the Holocaust have been subject to furious denial by perpetrators and other individuals and by highly organised groups such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-walker/both-incest-and-the-holocaust-have-been-subject-to-furious-denial-by/)

Janet Walker

> [“It was difficult to find information because Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was called shell shock during W.W.II, and when Vietnam Vets were found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-niles/it-was-difficult-to-find-information-because-post-traumatic-stress/)

[Sara Niles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-niles/)

> [“Ninety-six per cent of juvenile prostitutes are fugitives from abusive domestic situations; 66 per cent began working before they turned 16. (Prostitution is their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonella-gambotto-burke/ninety-six-per-cent-of-juvenile-prostitutes-are-fugitives-from/)

[Antonella Gambotto-Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonella-gambotto-burke/)

> [“When war is "over," it is never simply "over." The first war takes place during wartime. The second war, the far longer one, occurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarrisa-pinkola-estes/when-war-is-over-it-is-never-simply-over-the-first-war-takes-place/)

Clarrisa Pinkola Estes

> [“The world was not a place she could enjoy like any normal child; it lacked excitement and stimulation for her. She had been deadened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-glass/the-world-was-not-a-place-she-could-enjoy-like-any-normal-child-it/)

Cathy Glass

> [ I was shocked \[of Sarah Palin \], because beating up, you know, your girlfriend, your spouse, or acts of violence aren't one of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-soltz/i-was-shocked-of-sarah-palin-because-beating-up-you-know-your/)

[Jon Soltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-soltz/)

> [“The inability to get something out of your head is a signal that shouts, “Don’t forget to deal with this!” As long as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-enevoldsen/the-inability-to-get-something-out-of-your-head-is-a-signal-that/)

[Christina Enevoldsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-enevoldsen/)

> [Nothing like a little post-traumatic stress disorder to make your day complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/nothing-like-a-little-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-to-make-your-day/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [“One of the main problems for anyone working in health care, social work or addiction treatment is the struggle to hold on to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linde-zingaro/one-of-the-main-problems-for-anyone-working-in-health-care-social/)

Linde Zingaro

> [“God, O God, where art thou? Thou art as distant to me as the lady combing rice in the Yunnan Province of China or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chila-woychik/god-o-god-where-art-thou-thou-art-as-distant-to-me-as-the-lady/)

[Chila Woychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chila-woychik/)

> [ She \[Sarah Palin\] doesn't quite understand the issue \[post-traumatic stress disorder\] and, you know, if she's going to continue to be in this space,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-soltz/she-sarah-palin-doesn-t-quite-understand-the-issue-post-traumatic/)

[Jon Soltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-soltz/)

> [“Always remember, if you have been diagnosed with PTSD, it is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is proof of your strength, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/always-remember-if-you-have-been-diagnosed-with-ptsd-it-is-not-a-sign/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [Post traumatic stress disorder starts out with nightmares, flashbacks and actually reliving the event. And this happens over and over and over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-archer/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-starts-out-with-nightmares-flashbacks/)

[Dale Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-archer/)

[Browse all 55 Post traumatic stress disorder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Trauma is any stressor that occurs in a sudden and forceful way and is experienced as overwhelming.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephanie S. Covington"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-s-covington/trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a-sudden-and-forceful-way-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Post traumatic stress disorder"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-s-covington/trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a-sudden-and-forceful-way-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/stephanie-s-covington-279574_post-traumatic-stres_trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a_2471845.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/stephanie-s-covington-279574_post-traumatic-stres_trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a_2471845.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/stephanie-s-covington-279574_post-traumatic-stres_trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a_2471845.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Trauma is any stressor that occurs in a sudden and forceful way and is experienced as overwhelming.” — Stephanie S. Covington",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stephanie S. Covington",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-s-covington/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Trauma is any stressor that occurs...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-s-covington/trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a-sudden-and-forceful-way-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-s-covington/trauma-is-any-stressor-that-occurs-in-a-sudden-and-forceful-way-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
