Kleshas: The Five Afflictions Underlying Trauma Response

The kleshas are the five fundamental afflictions or obstacles in Patanjali's psychology: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego/I-ness), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death/resistance to change). Together, they create the basic human condition of suffering; trauma amplifies each one dramatically. Avidya in trauma appears as the fundamental misperception that danger still exists. Asmita rigidifies into a traumatized identity. Raga appears as desperate attachment to safety or control. Dvesha manifests as intense aversion to anything reminiscent of trauma. Abhinivesha becomes hypervigilance and fear of change or vulnerability. Patanjali's analysis reveals that trauma isn't merely a collection of symptoms but a systematic distortion of how consciousness relates to reality. By understanding the kleshas, survivors gain a map of their psychological patterns. Healing involves progressively seeing through each affliction—recognizing how ignorance, contracted identity, attachment, and aversion work together to perpetuate suffering. This framework transforms trauma from overwhelming chaos into an intelligible psychological structure that can be systematically addressed.