Understanding Trauma

“The body is a multilingual being. It speaks through its color and its temperature, the flush of recognition, the glow of love, the ash of pain, the heat of arousal, the coldness of non-conviction...It speaks through the leaping of the heart, the falling of the spirits, the pit at the center, and rising hope.”

-Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Defining Trauma

Trauma is an emotional and psychological response to deeply distressing and disturbing events. Everyone experiences some form of trauma in their life, which can range from losing a friend or family member, experiencing/witnessing abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), or surviving a natural disaster. These intense events can disrupt our sense of safety and wellbeing, often to the extent that it is difficult to cope and function in our daily lives. However, it is important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma develops a psychological disorder like PTSD. There are a number of vulnerable factors that predisposes an individual to such a disorder, which has nothing to do with being “weak,” but rather key elements such as the severity of the trauma, their coping skills, level of social support, and genetic factors. After a traumatic event it is normal to experience these symptoms for up to a few days and even weeks. It should be noted, these responses are NORMAL reactions to ABNORMAL events. In brief, the symptoms fade naturally as unsettling events are processed in the mind and body.  If the symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, it can manifest to other psychological disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, dissociative disorders, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse problems. This is when reaching out to a mental health professional can not only be beneficial, but also necessary. 

Trauma Response: Signs & Symptoms

Emotional and Psychological- self-blame, overwhelming fear, shame, depression, emotional numbing, irritability, emotional shock, disbelief, easily overwhelmed, anger & anxiety

Physical- insomnia or nightmares, being startled easily, difficulty concentrating, racing heartbeat, sexual dysfunctions, agitation, muscle tension, aches &  pains. 

Behavioral- avoidance of places or situations that may trigger symptoms, numbing, addictive behaviors, obsessive and compulsive behaviors, withdrawing from others, & social isolation. 

Treatment for Trauma 

Developing a Trauma Narrative 

The treatment of trauma is not limited to talking about the unpleasant memories and distressing feelings, although, this is a big step towards recovery. Describing the events and making sense of our stories is what we call developing a trauma narrative. These trauma narratives allow individuals to contextualize the experience and identify/unpair fearful associations to neutral stimuli (walking alone at night, loud noises, etc.). A large part of this work will also be developing resilience through psychoeducation on stress/trauma response, and applying learned coping skills. 

Body-Oriented Approach

Working with the body in session alongside talk therapy can help access what cannot come through in language, especially to those preverbal experiences. Furthermore, trauma is a biopsychosocial experience, that means traumatic events that cause no direct bodily harm disrupts the body in other ways. Trauma disrupts our body’s natural ability to reach a state of equilibrium. Those somatic disturbances (conversion reaction, physical tension, heightened anxiety response, etc.) are the hallmarks of PTSD. A body-oriented approach to treating trauma does not require touch, but rather learning to regulate our nervous system through relaxation training and grounding techniques. 

Closing Thoughts: Trauma Recovery

The treatment of trauma is complex, and not one size fits all. It is a process that requires patience and consistency on both the part of the client and therapist. Working with someone you trust and who has knowledge on trauma plays a huge part in your road to recovery. The overarching goal is safety. It is about befriending your body and mind, so that you can once again know what it is to be safe with your felt-experiences, relationships, and the world around you.