When someone goes through a hard time, it can be difficult to explain how it feels. People often use special comparisons called similes to help others understand pain, sadness, or emotional hurt. A simile uses words like “as” or “like” to show how one thing is similar to another. They make writing more interesting and feelings easier to picture.
In this article, we will look at these similes for trauma. These similes compare deep feelings to things we see or know in everyday life. They help describe hard times in ways that are easy to understand. Whether it’s feeling lost, broken, or hurt inside, these expressions can show that pain without needing to explain everything. Let’s explore these similes one by one.
Similes for Trauma
1. Like a shadow that never leaves
Meaning: Constant pain or sadness that follows someone everywhere.
Samples: Ever since the accident, his sadness followed him like a shadow that never leaves. / Her worry clung to her like a shadow that never leaves.
To Put it Another Way: The pain didn’t go away. / She always felt the sadness near.
2. As heavy as a stone in the chest
Meaning: Feeling deep sorrow or emotional weight.
Samples: He sat alone, feeling as heavy as a stone in the chest. / The bad news hit her as heavy as a stone in the chest.
To Put it Another Way: His heart felt full of pain. / It was hard to breathe from the sadness.
3. Like walking through fog
Meaning: Confused or unsure after a hard event.
Samples: After the loss, her days felt like walking through fog. / His mind was cloudy, like walking through fog.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t think clearly. / Everything felt unclear and slow.
4. As quiet as a broken clock
Meaning: Feeling shut down or numb inside.
Samples: He was as quiet as a broken clock after the bad news. / She stopped talking, as quiet as a broken clock.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t show emotion. / She felt nothing at all.
5. Like a storm locked inside
Meaning: Hiding strong and painful emotions.
Samples: He looked calm, but it was like a storm locked inside. / Her smile hid a storm locked inside.
To Put it Another Way: He kept his pain inside. / She didn’t let her feelings show.
6. As cold as a winter night
Meaning: Feeling emotionally distant or unloved.
Samples: Her heart felt as cold as a winter night after the fight. / His words were as cold as a winter night.
To Put it Another Way: She felt alone. / He showed no warmth.
7. Like glass that’s cracked
Meaning: Feeling fragile or damaged.
Samples: After the argument, she felt like glass that’s cracked. / He smiled, but inside he felt like glass that’s cracked.
To Put it Another Way: He felt breakable. / She wasn’t okay, even if she looked fine.
8. As lost as a balloon in the sky
Meaning: Feeling without direction or hope.
Samples: He wandered the halls as lost as a balloon in the sky. / After her friend moved, she felt as lost as a balloon in the sky.
To Put it Another Way: She didn’t know what to do. / He felt empty and alone.
9. Like a door that won’t open
Meaning: Unable to talk or connect with others.
Samples: After the event, he was like a door that won’t open. / She wanted to talk but felt like a door that won’t open.
To Put it Another Way: He kept everything inside. / She couldn’t share her feelings.
10. As silent as a dropped tear
Meaning: Quiet pain that no one sees.
Samples: Her sadness was as silent as a dropped tear. / He cried alone, as silent as a dropped tear.
To Put it Another Way: No one noticed her pain. / His hurt was quiet but real.
11. Like a candle in the wind
Meaning: Feeling weak or unsteady after pain.
Samples: She stood there like a candle in the wind. / His strength faded, like a candle in the wind.
To Put it Another Way: He felt unsure and weak. / She could break at any time.
12. As empty as a blank page
Meaning: Feeling nothing or hollow after trauma.
Samples: His face looked as empty as a blank page. / She felt as empty as a blank page when the news came.
To Put it Another Way: There were no feelings left. / She didn’t know what to feel.
13. Like a mirror with a crack
Meaning: Feeling damaged even if still whole.
Samples: He looked fine, but felt like a mirror with a crack. / Her smile was like a mirror with a crack—there was pain behind it.
To Put it Another Way: She was hurting inside. / He felt broken deep down.
14. As still as a frozen lake
Meaning: Feeling stuck and unable to move forward.
Samples: After the accident, he sat as still as a frozen lake. / Her thoughts were as still as a frozen lake.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t do anything. / He felt frozen by sadness.
15. Like thunder in the chest
Meaning: Strong emotions building inside.
Samples: Every time he thought of it, it felt like thunder in the chest. / Her fear rolled like thunder in the chest.
To Put it Another Way: His feelings were loud inside. / She was filled with stress.
16. As quiet as a shut book
Meaning: Keeping feelings hidden.
Samples: He stayed as quiet as a shut book after the news. / She was as quiet as a shut book during the talk.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t share his thoughts. / Her feelings stayed inside.
17. Like a house with no lights
Meaning: Feeling empty or lifeless.
Samples: She walked around like a house with no lights. / His face looked like a house with no lights.
To Put it Another Way: There was no joy in him. / She felt dark inside.
18. As broken as a dropped plate
Meaning: Feeling completely shattered.
Samples: Her heart felt as broken as a dropped plate. / He was as broken as a dropped plate after the fight.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t pull himself together. / She felt like pieces inside.
19. Like a song without music
Meaning: Lacking joy or energy.
Samples: Her life felt like a song without music. / He spoke like a song without music—flat and sad.
To Put it Another Way: She felt lifeless. / He had no spark left.
20. As low as a setting sun
Meaning: Feeling sad and drained.
Samples: He sat there as low as a setting sun. / Her mood was as low as a setting sun.
To Put it Another Way: Her energy was gone. / He felt like giving up.
21. Like a bird with clipped wings
Meaning: Feeling unable to move or grow.
Samples: He was like a bird with clipped wings after the injury. / She felt like a bird with clipped wings—trapped.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t move on. / He felt stuck.
22. As scared as a deer in headlights
Meaning: Shocked and frozen with fear.
Samples: He looked as scared as a deer in headlights. / She was as scared as a deer in headlights when it happened.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t react. / She was frozen with fear.
23. Like ashes after a fire
Meaning: Feeling used up or ruined.
Samples: Her hope felt like ashes after a fire. / His strength was like ashes after a fire.
To Put it Another Way: There was nothing left. / He felt burned out.
24. As torn as old paper
Meaning: Feeling weak or pulled apart.
Samples: Her heart felt as torn as old paper. / He was as torn as old paper after the divorce.
To Put it Another Way: She was in pieces. / He couldn’t hold it together.
25. Like rain on a window
Meaning: Quiet tears and sadness.
Samples: Her crying was like rain on a window. / His face looked like rain on a window.
To Put it Another Way: The tears kept coming. / She was quietly hurting.
26. As faded as an old photo
Meaning: Feeling forgotten or worn out.
Samples: His dreams were as faded as an old photo. / She felt as faded as an old photo.
To Put it Another Way: She didn’t feel seen. / He felt like he didn’t matter.
27. Like a balloon without air
Meaning: Feeling deflated or tired from sadness.
Samples: After the loss, she was like a balloon without air. / He slumped over like a balloon without air.
To Put it Another Way: He had no energy. / She felt empty.
28. As dull as a cloudy day
Meaning: Feeling down or without joy.
Samples: Her mood was as dull as a cloudy day. / He looked as dull as a cloudy day.
To Put it Another Way: She was gloomy. / He didn’t feel bright inside.
29. Like a story with no ending
Meaning: Feeling unsure or incomplete.
Samples: Her pain felt like a story with no ending. / He lived like a story with no ending.
To Put it Another Way: Nothing felt finished. / She didn’t know how to move forward.
30. As slow as a ticking clock
Meaning: Feeling like time moves slowly when sad.
Samples: The day felt as slow as a ticking clock. / Each minute dragged as slow as a ticking clock.
To Put it Another Way: Time wouldn’t pass. / It felt like waiting forever.
31. Like a wound that won’t heal
Meaning: Ongoing pain or sadness.
Samples: Her grief was like a wound that won’t heal. / He carried a pain like a wound that won’t heal.
To Put it Another Way: The hurt stayed with her. / He couldn’t recover.
32. As small as a whisper
Meaning: Feeling invisible or unheard.
Samples: Her voice was as small as a whisper in the crowd. / He felt as small as a whisper in the group.
To Put it Another Way: No one noticed her. / He didn’t feel important.
33. Like a sky with no stars
Meaning: Feeling hopeless or without light.
Samples: Her world felt like a sky with no stars. / He looked up, seeing only a sky with no stars.
To Put it Another Way: There was no hope. / She felt lost in the dark.
34. As lonely as an empty park
Meaning: Feeling alone and forgotten.
Samples: He sat as lonely as an empty park. / Her heart was as lonely as an empty park.
To Put it Another Way: She felt all by herself. / No one was around to care.
35. Like a flame going out
Meaning: Losing strength or spirit.
Samples: His hope was like a flame going out. / She faded like a flame going out.
To Put it Another Way: Her energy disappeared. / He gave up inside.
36. As rough as a scraped knee
Meaning: Painful and raw feeling.
Samples: The breakup felt as rough as a scraped knee. / Her heart was as rough as a scraped knee.
To Put it Another Way: It really hurt. / The pain was sharp and fresh.
37. Like a tree without roots
Meaning: Feeling lost or without support.
Samples: He felt like a tree without roots after his dad left. / She was like a tree without roots in a new school.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t feel safe. / She had no place to belong.
38. As sharp as broken glass
Meaning: Feeling deeply hurt.
Samples: His words were as sharp as broken glass. / Her pain was as sharp as broken glass.
To Put it Another Way: It cut deep. / She felt stung by emotion.
39. Like a song stuck on a sad note
Meaning: Stuck in sadness or a bad memory.
Samples: Her thoughts were like a song stuck on a sad note. / He kept playing that moment like a song stuck on a sad note.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t move on. / The sadness stayed.
40. As faded as chalk in the rain
Meaning: Feeling washed out or weak.
Samples: Her joy faded as fast as chalk in the rain. / His strength was as faded as chalk in the rain.
To Put it Another Way: She lost her brightness. / He couldn’t hold on.
41. Like a rope pulled too tight
Meaning: Feeling tense or about to break.
Samples: She felt like a rope pulled too tight. / His stress made him feel like a rope pulled too tight.
To Put it Another Way: He was under too much pressure. / She felt close to snapping.
42. As blank as a foggy mirror
Meaning: Feeling unclear or confused inside.
amples: Her mind was as blank as a foggy mirror. / He stared ahead as blank as a foggy mirror.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t focus. / His thoughts were cloudy.
43. Like a seed that won’t grow
Meaning: Feeling stuck or unable to heal.
Samples: Her recovery felt like a seed that won’t grow. / He was like a seed that won’t grow, no matter what.
To Put it Another Way: She wasn’t getting better. / He couldn’t move on.
44. As still as a picture frame
Meaning: Not changing or reacting.
Samples: He stood as still as a picture frame during the talk. / Her face was as still as a picture frame.
To Put it Another Way: No feelings showed. / She stayed frozen.
45. Like thunder with no rain
Meaning: Feeling upset but not able to cry.
Samples: He was like thunder with no rain. / Her heart roared like thunder with no rain.
To Put it Another Way: She felt upset inside. / The pain didn’t show in tears.
46. As weak as a bent flower
Meaning: Feeling tired or unable to cope.
Samples: After the news, she felt as weak as a bent flower. / His body felt as weak as a bent flower.
To Put it Another Way: She had no strength left. / He couldn’t keep going.
47. Like a maze with no exit
Meaning: Feeling trapped or confused by emotions.
Samples: Her grief felt like a maze with no exit. / His mind was like a maze with no exit.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t find peace. / He felt lost in sadness.
48. As slow as a heavy sigh
Meaning: Moving with sadness or lack of energy.
Samples: She walked as slow as a heavy sigh. / His steps were as slow as a heavy sigh.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t want to move. / She was full of sorrow.
49. Like a song no one hears
Meaning: Feeling unnoticed or unimportant.
Samples: Her feelings were like a song no one hears. / He was like a song no one hears in the busy room.
To Put it Another Way: No one paid attention. / She felt unseen.
50. As painful as a thorn in the heart
Meaning: A deep, sharp emotional hurt.
Samples: His words were as painful as a thorn in the heart. / She held on to a memory as painful as a thorn in the heart.
To Put it Another Way: It hurt deeply. / The sadness stayed inside.
Find the Topics: Similes for Trauma
It was Monday morning, and the sky was gray. Jayden walked into class like a balloon without air. He didn’t talk to anyone and kept his eyes down. His mind felt like a maze with no exit.
During reading time, Ms. Carter asked him to read, but his voice was as small as a whisper. The words came slow, like a heavy sigh. His best friend, Alex, noticed something was off. Jayden looked as dull as a cloudy day.
Later, during lunch, Jayden sat alone. He stared out the window, feeling like a bird with clipped wings. The playground sounds faded behind him. His thoughts were like thunder in the chest, and his heart felt as heavy as a stone in the chest.
Alex sat down beside him and gently asked, “Are you okay?” Jayden didn’t answer. He was as quiet as a shut book. Finally, he whispered, “I just feel like a house with no lights.”
Alex nodded. “You’re not alone.” Jayden looked up, and even though his pain was still like a wound that won’t heal, he felt a little less like a song no one hears.
Answer Key:
- Like a balloon without air
- Like a maze with no exit
- As small as a whisper
- Like a heavy sigh
- As dull as a cloudy day
- Like a bird with clipped wings
- Like thunder in the chest
- As heavy as a stone in the chest
- As quiet as a shut book
- Like a house with no lights
- Like a wound that won’t heal
- Like a song no one hears
Conclusion
Similes help us describe hard feelings in a simple way. When people go through tough times, they may feel lost, hurt, or alone. Saying someone is “like a balloon without air” or “as quiet as a shut book” paints a clearer picture than just saying “sad” or “upset.”
By learning these similes, we can better understand others and explain our own feelings. These expressions make it easier to talk about pain in a way that’s honest but not too heavy. When you write or speak about trauma, try using one of these similes. It might help someone feel seen or heard.
