Trauma Dumping

Are you a trauma dumper? Do you endlessly project emotional baggage onto your family and friends? Does it cause more stress for you and the listener? Guess what? You are not alone, and there is a clear way to overcome trauma dumping. Trauma dumping is not intentional; it is not meant to overload or exacerbate situations. Still, it is a way a person uses to express their feelings in a highly emotional way.

Trauma dumping is the act of unloading intense, unresolved distress onto another person without their consent. While the other person intends to help a family member or friend in a time of need, the experience can become overwhelming, diminishing support for future issues. The goal is usually to offer mutual support, but when the “dumping” becomes too much, the listener can start to suffer from burnout. Too much venting can also be unhealthy for the “dumper,” leading to more stress, anxiety, depression, and advanced trauma. When it comes to oversharing, it is essential to consider the listener’s position and emotional capacity. Unintentionally, the person can cause vicarious trauma for the listener.

When oversharing, a person must consider boundaries for both themselves and the listener. While it can be easy for the listener to be a shoulder to cry on, it is essential to determine whether the listener has both the capacity and time to handle the intense material. Also, if the conversation becomes one-sided, it is apparent that the listener has little to no interest in discussing the issue or sharing their perspective. It also becomes annoying when statements are repeated and inappropriate, which is a technique of emotional manipulation.

Healthy venting can be practiced when both parties agree on a common goal and offer support or constructive criticism to provide relief, rather than a lack of mutual connection. For the person who shares, who may feel misunderstood or unheard after oversharing, an alternative may be to seek professional help from a therapist, psychologist, or support group where individuals with similar educational or life experiences can provide more appropriate responses. For the listener, if you become exhausted, those same alternatives can be suggested while offering a lighter perspective. However, the most crucial aspect is for the listener to follow up with the sharer to show empathy. We must all realize that trauma dumping is not a vile or selfish act, but we should learn better ways to share traumatic experiences while being open to all support resources.