Chances
are good that you or someone you know has experienced a traumatic event
at least once in your lifetime. Many individuals who experience trauma
will develop a psychological condition known as post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Evidence indicates that communication plays a critical
role in helping individuals recover from PTSD. Due to emotional
sensitivities, traumatized individuals will often (unwittingly) choose
metaphors in place of literal language to describe their traumatic
experiences. We can help individuals recover from traumatic events by
learning to communicate with them using metaphorical language.