this is a great site for defining trauma, PSTD and it talks about re-traumatization, that is when your old wounds are reopened by new circumstances.
One of the most common causes of trauma I have come across is bullying, which includes all forms of psychological violence, harassment and emotional abuse. My experience and research suggests that at least half the population are bullied (click here to identify the bullying in your life), either at work or at school, or by a partner or family member, or by people in authority, or by neighbours. Bullying causes prolonged negative stress which cumulatively results in trauma.
http://www.successunlimited.co.uk/spirituality/spiritual.htm
