Trauma is personal. It affects everyone at some point in life. In this broken world, there is no escaping trauma. It cannot be compared to other’s situations or circumstances, yet our virtual world does just that through social shaming and downplaying the personal impacts of trauma. The past few decades unlocked many of the complexities and mysteries surrounding how the mind processes and stores trauma in the body, setting the stage for hope. Hope and healing come with compassion, empathy, respect, acceptance, and understanding.
The American Psychiatric Association defines trauma as the experiencing or witnessing of events in which there is actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence. Traumatic events can include the death of a loved one, abusive relationships, accidents, natural disasters, and severed relationships. Trauma has lasting adverse effects on mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being. The processing of trauma in the brain is directly correlated to how life-threatening the trauma is. When the flight or fight response reaches extreme levels, the brain stores memories in a fragmented state, increasing the difficulty of processing and resolving trauma. Unresolved trauma then presents itself physically and emotionally when triggers ignite the fragmented memories.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental and behavioral response that develops from traumatic events. The symptoms affect every aspect of daily life and can appear months, or even years, after the trauma itself. Complex PTSD refers to repetitive trauma often associated with childhood or abusive relationships. Childhood trauma has devastating effects on the body, mind, and spirit. We learn self-care early in childhood development by the way we are cared for. The number of children estimated to have suffered childhood trauma is staggering. The spirit is challenged in identity formation. The mind suffers disassociation, anxiety, and a variety of psychiatric disorders as the developing mind struggles to cope. Physically childhood trauma is linked to pain disorders, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic syndromes. Understanding this impact is critical to appropriate care.
Coping with the results of trauma requires a comprehensive approach beginning in the medical profession and extending into alternative forms of healing options. Mental health treatment is a critical component to overcoming the negative effects of PTSD. One treatment approach, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), shows promising results in accessing and processing traumatic fragmented memories to restore natural sleep cycles and successfully treat PTSD. Other treatment strategies for coping with trauma include a variety of therapies that stimulate the mind and body. Music and dance therapy utilizes rhythms, freedom of movement, and self-expression. Massage therapy improves sensory awareness, enhances blood flow, and relaxes stressed muscles. Acting and theatre activities, including improvisational skills, allow creativity to flow and the mind to relax by becoming who we are not. Effective treatments are as diverse as the individuals suffering from trauma.
The fundamental building blocks of health include movement strategies, nutrition, sleep, and stress management. Learning to individualize the many self-care opportunities in these areas is a critical component of the healing process.
· Movement strategies release endorphins and can be very helpful in overcoming trauma. Deep breathing exercises are very helpful in controlling mental and physical responses to trauma. Relaxation strategies combining movement including yoga, tai chi, and dance can be very helpful in enhancing calm and reducing the body’s reaction to increased levels of stress hormones.
· A balanced diet is another key component to overcoming trauma. Reducing sugar, decreasing processed foods, and eating whole foods improves the mental and physical effects of chronic trauma-related stress. Adding mindfulness to your eating by savoring the flavors and appreciating a meal is another application to restore hormonal balance and decrease the impact of trauma on the body, mind, and spirit.
· Sleep cycles are directly correlated to stress and negative emotions. Establishing a nighttime routine and paying attention to sleep hygiene can help. Staying connected to family, friends, and colleagues has also been shown to enhance healing from trauma. Isolation breeds negative emotions and deepens the impacts of trauma. Accepting support, connecting with those you trust, and creating boundaries, can provide a safe space for healing and rest.
· Working through negative emotions and the physiological response to those emotions can be achieved through meditation, journaling, or body scanning to increase self-awareness. Stimulating personal creativity and embracing individuality through activities that bring joy restore balance to the mind and spirit and lead to enhanced coping strategies for stress.
Trauma’s effects on the body, mind, and spirit cannot be ignored. Seek a compassionate professional to help overcome the negative impacts of trauma. Life coaching can help navigate the medical model as well as alternative interventions to overcome trauma and get Back to Life.