The crucial point of Kelman's concept of traumatic neurosis centers around his statement: 'The traumatic neurotics hate themselves for failing. It was a failure that they did not live up to their secret ideal which for them is reality. It was a failure that they allowed the accident or situation to happen which allegedly was the cause of their present state. Because they have been so hyperalert, the occurrence of the unexpected, which overwhelmed them, feels particularly defeating and humiliating.' Inability to accept the failure explains the repetitive nature of the traumatic neurosis. Failure, the trauma, and even psychiatric help is described as being felt as a humiliation for the narcissistic person. Five case histories illustrate the author's theories.