An expert said sharing trauma has become "trendy" on social media - because Gen Z are the first generation not to be ashamed of it.<br /><br />Meg Schnetzer, 32, is a trauma trained somatic practitioner, and works with people every day to help them overcome their past experiences.<br /><br />She said we have seen "an uptick on social media" of people talking about their own past trauma - and it has become "a trend".<br /><br />Meg noted it is common to see people opening up about their traumas on platforms like TikTok - and "owning" their trauma responses.<br /><br />She said trauma responses are often personality traits - which can include things like being a perfectionist or being anxious - as a result of earlier experiences.<br /><br />Despite trauma becoming "trendy" as a topic, Meg said as long as the word isn't being "thrown around flippantly", it's not a bad thing.<br /><br />Meg said this development is something professionals haven't seen before - because Generation Z are the first who are "not ashamed to get loud about it".<br /><br />Meg, from Smyrna, Delaware, said: "I'm of the belief that nobody escapes trauma - it just looks different for everyone.<br /><br />"Some people don't even realise they have been through it.<br /><br />"What's different about this generation is they're not ignoring it.<br /><br />"As far as trauma goes, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.<br /><br />"There seems to be a lot of awareness, so that people are feeling safe enough to open up and share their experiences.<br /><br />"When people are able to work up the courage to share, it ignites a whole movement.<br /><br />"I definitely think things like TikTok have accelerated the timeline - when I started two years ago it felt like we were speaking into the void.<br /><br />"But now, especially in the last six months - it's everywhere.<br /><br />"All in all, I think it’s a great thing that the generation seems to be more self-aware."<br /><br />Meg explained trauma is about how you were supported while going through a difficult experience, rather than just the experience itself.<br /><br />She said the emotions and beliefs can be stored in our nervous system - and can be reflected years on in your behaviour.<br /><br />This could be addiction, lashing out, people pleasing, isolating yourself, or inability to trust people - all done with the intention of protecting yourself in some way.<br /><br />Meg also reckons the uptick of young people having symptoms of ADHD, OCD and autism may be a result of recognising unresolved trauma.<br /><br />She said: "It's this interesting crossover between the two worlds and the physical symptoms that go beyond what's in your head."<br /><br />She explained Generation Z are specifically opening up about this in a way that hasn't been seen before.<br /><br />Meg said: "A lot of us especially in my generation, Millennials, grow up to be adults that invalidate our own experiences.<br /><br />"We come from a generation who were invalidated a lot, had emotions minimised and were told to 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' rather than letting your feelings out.<br /><br />"So it feels easier in the long run to invalidate those feelings - telling yourself 'I've got this far, its not affecting me that much' - but ultimately it's just another form of avoidance.<br /><br />"So when I speak to clients I always hear 'why aren't more people being taught this?'<br /><br />"So while you can't reach the entire world on TikTok, it makes a big difference - people don't know things unless they hear it.<br /><br />"Now Gen Z are owning their trauma responses and making a conscious stand."
