I remember hearing this definition for the first time a few years ago while watching one of his interviews, and even now, years later, I still consider it the most accurate and profound definition of trauma.

“Trauma, by its very nature, disconnects us from ourselves, from others, and from the world. It fractures our sense of wholeness, leaving us alienated from our authentic selves. This disconnection manifests in how we relate to others, in the walls we build to protect ourselves, and in the ways we cope. Healing is the process of gently dismantling those walls, rediscovering our inner connection, and ultimately returning to a sense of unity with ourselves and the world around us.”

Gabor Maté