Have you ever noticed how trauma doesn't just affect your emotions, but seems to change your entire view of the world? Perhaps you used to feel generally safe, but now you're constantly on edge. Maybe you believed that good things happen to good people, but now that belief feels naive. As a therapist based in North Berwick, I often work with clients who describe feeling like the ground has shifted beneath them after a traumatic experience. This phenomenon has a name: Shattered Assumptions Theory.
What Are Our Core Assumptions?
According to psychologist Ronnie Janoff-Bulman, most of us carry three fundamental beliefs that help us navigate the world. First, we believe the world is generally benevolent, that it's a safe place where bad things don't usually happen. Second, we believe the world is meaningful, that there's order and reason to events, and that we have some control over what happens to us. Third, we believe we are worthy, that we're good people who deserve good things.
These assumptions operate quietly in the background of our lives, providing a sense of safety and predictability. We don't usually think about them consciously, but they shape how we move through the world.
What Happens When Trauma Shatters These Beliefs?
When we experience trauma, these core assumptions can shatter. Suddenly, the world doesn't feel safe anymore. Events seem random and meaningless. We might question our own worth or blame ourselves for what happened. This shattering explains why trauma affects us so profoundly. It's not just about the traumatic event itself, but about how it undermines our fundamental understanding of how the world works.
You might find yourself thinking: "If this could happen, then anything could happen." Or "I thought I was safe, but I was wrong." These thoughts reflect the deep disruption to your core beliefs about safety, meaning, and self-worth.
The Path Forward
Understanding that your beliefs have been shattered by trauma can actually be helpful. It normalises your experience and helps explain why you're feeling so disoriented. The good news is that therapy can help you update these beliefs in a way that acknowledges what happened while helping you feel safe and grounded again.
If you're struggling with shattered assumptions after trauma, please know that this reaction is completely normal. Through therapeutic work, it's possible to rebuild a worldview that feels both realistic and hopeful. I'm here if you'd like to explore how therapy might support this process.