Not all aggression is easily recognizable, especially when it is embedded within the cultural discourse and is socially sanctioned. Those who are marginalized and made to feel less because they are not a part of dominant culture are forced to deal with the subtle realization that they are unwelcome for being who and what they are. Think of insidious trauma as a constant but barely perceptible tapping on your shoulders. Obvious forms of trauma like rape are more like a powerful punch to the face.
In a sense insidious trauma is as damaging because it forces a person to question his or her own sanity. Since events are not blatantly obvious faulty perception could be to blame. The cumulative effect of subtle marginalization can create painful symptoms similar to those found in more obvious forms of trauma. A metaphor to describe this process is drips of water falling onto a stone. At first the drips will seem to have no impact, but as the years go by the stone will begin to wear away until a hole is finally created.
[For more of this story, written by Michael Schreiner, go to http://evolutioncounseling.com...nd-insidious-trauma/]
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