Trauma Dumping
CommunicationSharing heavy personal trauma very early in a relationship, before it's earned.
What it means
Trauma dumping is the early-relationship pattern of disclosing serious past trauma — abuse, mental health crises, severe loss — before the relationship has built the intimacy to hold it. It's distinct from healthy vulnerability because the disclosure is often unsolicited and asymmetric, putting the recipient in the position of emotional caretaker.
Related terms
Make the first impression the easy part.
Turn the photo you have into a better photo or a short video. Still you, on a good day.