How Does Trauma Shape Our Identity?

Our identity is shaped by various aspects of our lives, from our favorite foods to subtle habits that are often not noticeable to ourselves. Identity is how you perceive yourself and how you choose to shape it, but there are also other influences that make your identity unique from others. Most people will experience some form of trauma in life, and it impacts each person in different ways. Trauma teaches us habits; as we slowly heal from these wounds, we piece them into our identity. 

Firstly, as mentioned, identity is how you perceive yourself and how you choose to shape yourself. Many factors contribute to your identity, including gender, values and beliefs, sexual orientation, and others. But this only scratches the surface level of what identity could be. Diving deeper, trauma plays a significant role in shaping our identity as well. Malka Shaw, a psychotherapist specializing in trauma, states that “trauma doesn’t just leave physical or emotional scars—it can profoundly reshape a person's sense of self and identity. Whether experienced individually or collectively, trauma disrupts the foundation of how people understand who they are and how they relate to the world around them” (Kesher Shalm Projects 2024). As explained by Shaw, trauma can impact our identity deeply, altering the way we perceive things. Trauma can change how we view the world, but these changes are not solely negative, which brings us to our next point. 

Trauma is defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, and is known to affect us in both positive and negative ways. On the positive side, healing from trauma can teach us valuable lessons, such as appreciation for the things we have, resilience, and hope. This process is also known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Negatively, when trauma is left unsupported, it can impact us by weakening our emotional sensitivity or even heightening it excessively, as well as in other ways. This can lead to conditions such as mild anxiety disorders, adjustment disorder, and sometimes even more severe disorders, which is why we need to heal from the trauma we’ve faced. Now, because these disorders can affect our daily lives–how we deal with personal problems, how we act, words we speak, mannerisms, and even our unconscious actions–all of this becomes a part of our identity. Our day-to-day choices and actions, whether it be in our social lives or regular conversation, reflect how trauma has shaped us, making the trauma that we’ve experienced a part of us.

T rauma shapes identity by teaching us important lessons about the world and ourselves. While identity is how you choose to perceive yourself, trauma is a deeply distressing experience that shapes it. Nevertheless, healing is crucial for transforming trauma into growth. Whether major or minor, trauma is an experience that affects nearly everyone. Ultimately, these experiences help nurture vital values like resilience, thoughtfulness, and empathy, teaching us to overcome hardship and approach others with kindness.

Works cited

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‌3. Levy T. The positive side of trauma. Evergreen Psychotherapy Center. Published June 24, 2015. https://evergreenpsychotherapycenter.com/the-positive-side-of-trauma/

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‌5. How Trauma Can Lead to Positive Change. Psychology Today. Published 2016. Accessed August 10, 2025. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-path-passionate-happiness/201606/how-trauma-can-lead-positive-change?msockid=3d30dc1b14c36f872714ce1e15476e8b 

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7. The Real Reason Trauma Affects People Differently. Psychology Today. Published 2025. Accessed August 10, 2025. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/traumatization-and-its-aftermath/202507/the-real-reason-trauma-affects-people-differently?msockid=3d30dc1b14c36f872714ce1e15476e8b