When an event in our lives occurs with such intensity that we are unable to respond to it adequately in the moment, or when it remains difficult to understand and process even after time has passed, we refer to it as trauma. In some cases, it is not a single event, but rather an accumulation of experiences that, taken together, become equally difficult to process.
This situation can be even more complex in childhood. When a child goes through experiences for which they do not yet have the words to name, understand, or communicate them, emotional processing becomes more difficult.
Something similar can occur at a social level. We live in a time characterized by a constant flow of information, rapid changes, and multiple demands. We receive news, messages, images, and data continuously. However, we often have little time to reflect on them, to give them meaning, and to integrate them into our experience.
In this context, the space for meaningful dialogue with others risks being reduced to brief and fragmented exchanges. At times, communication becomes limited to quick messages that convey information, but leave little room to express emotions, share ideas, process concerns, or build a deeper understanding of what we are experiencing. Emojis or memes may add emotional nuance; however, they often cannot replace the richness of dialogue or the depth of a more meaningful conversation.
Communication codes are changing rapidly and, in some cases, may contribute to feelings of emotional isolation, emptiness, or disconnection. Even spaces traditionally dedicated to encounter and conversation are often invaded by noise, interruptions, and the constant rush of daily life.
For this reason, it is essential to revalue and promote spaces where words can fully express their richness: reading, dialogue, conversation, listening, and genuine communication. Naming our experiences, sharing them with others, and finding words to understand them is an essential part of our emotional well-being and our life in community.
Recovering words is also recovering the possibility of encountering ourselves and others.
Josefina Calí, LMHC
Psychotherapist – Counselor in Mental Health
Human Resources Consultant
