Trauma
What is trauma?
Traumatic events can occur at any age throughout your life and have lasting effects on your physical and emotional well-being. While trauma is typically associated with significant events such as physical or sexual assault, violence, or accidents, it can also involve responses to repeated events, like ongoing emotional abuse or childhood neglect. Trauma falls on a spectrum and is a relative term to describe any impactful or significant event you have endured.
What is complex trauma?
Complex trauma results from years of painful experiences such as child abuse, bullying, neglect, or chronic medical conditions. The traumas may also be more subtle such as years of being invalidated or controlled. Early relational trauma can also look like needs being ignored, punished, shamed, and authentic expression may feel pointless or unsafe. When your attempts are met with rejection or shame, you may begin to develop a “mask” as a way to protect yourself from others. The downside of this “mask” is that it blocks your core, authentic self, which can lead to you becoming disconnected from yourself where your existence is defined by the behavior, moods, and acceptance of others. When this happens it can lead to codependent patterns in relationships. See more on codependency here.
What happens when we experience trauma?
When we experience trauma, stress is activated in the brain and body in response to the stressor(s). Since physiology does not differentiate much between the types of stressors (e.g. incompetent boss vs. being chased by a lion), you may respond similarly in two very different contexts. The stress response in our bodies occurs when the nervous system is activated and can result in a flight, fight or freeze response. When our brain perceives danger or a threat, our bodies flood with adrenaline and cortisol, which lead to an increased heart rate, sweating, digestive issues, etc. We actually need to complete this stress response cycle to deal with the feelings when they arise. This is where therapy can be helpful as it can provide tools to properly cope with stress. Rather than deal with the stressor (external event), it is important to learn to deal with the stress (internal feelings). You can learn ways to communicate to your body that you have completed this cycle (e.g. “escaped and survived”).
How can we complete the cycle?
physical activity can help work through the fight response
sleep
mindfulness
creative expression such as journaling, various forms of art
grooming or body self care
Trauma can lead to many symptoms including:
intrusive thoughts, including flashbacks or nightmares
avoiding things that remind you of the trauma, including people, places, or objects
hyper-vigilance or being aware of danger
being easily startled or “jumpy”
being activated by people, places or things that remind you of the trauma, whether consciously or subconsciously
changes in how you see yourself, such as believing you are “bad”
easily overwhelmed or difficulty controlling your emotions. This can manifest as angry outbursts, irritability, crying, etc.
The effects of trauma can be significant and it is important to address your feelings to shift your stress response. As a trauma informed therapist, I am trained to have the knowledge and understanding of the potential impact trauma can have on an individual. This all starts with creating an environment in which you feel safe, being mindful of words used, scents, or sounds that can “set off” a trauma response or memory. Through allowing choice, empowerment, validation, trust and collaboration, we will work to increase safety within yourself and your world.
If the effects of trauma are holding you back and interfering with your goals, I’d love to guide and support you in working through stressors to address your fears and seek safety.