Term for Sudden Change in Beliefs I'm familiar with terms and concepts like cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, conformism and belief systems (a political term).

I'd like to learn more about what some might call an "awakening." For example, imagine a person going through life only vaguely aware of things like "Big Brother," government corruption and conspiracy. Suddenly, an event(s) or observation(s) triggers a realization that at least some of these rumors are true.

This person finds himself desperately searching for answers while simultaneously struggling with the need to cling to cherished beliefs.

Do psychologists have a term for such an awakening and/or the ensuing trauma that can accompany it?

It would be especially helpful if you could mention any psychologists who have studied it, books written about it, etc.
"Sudden conversion" probably covers at least a subset of what you seem to have in mind. Sudden conversion has been studied in the psychology of religion, as early as psychology has been around basically; I found an article (which is reviewing a book of Morton Prince on the topic) published in Psychological Bulletin in 1907.