ABSTRACT
Experiencing trauma in New York City (NYC) feels different than in other parts of the country and possibly even the world. It feels both simple yet quite complex. On the one hand, living here is so tough that it feels as if the people of this city are familiar with trauma on a daily basis. On the other hand, seeing the variety of faces that appear each day on the subway, it seems that for many NYC is filled with boundless joy and opportunity. The behavior of New Yorkers is often considered harsh or downright mean by visitors. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as: An emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. The Association then defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, as "an anxiety problem that develops in people after extremely traumatic events, such as combat, crime, an accident or natural disaster".
