Let's Talk About Trauma

“Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering." Peter A. Levine, Ph.D.

trau·ma (noun): derived from the Greek word traumatikōs meaning wound

1. any unhealed wound

2. these wounds can look like but not limited to emotional, physical, sexual, spiritual, somatic, financial, existential, or they can exist in any combination

Putting emphasis on the word wound broadens the common stigma our society often thinks of when they think about trauma. This belief often leads clients to believe trauma must be a life-threatening event. Ultimately, each client gets to decide if something they experienced was adverse or traumatic for them. Understanding that it is an individual perspective can help begin healing and create understanding for how one situation can have many different outcomes.

One way to define trauma would be to explore how these experiences might be showing up as symptoms in your present everyday life and not necessarily with a full diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or Depression. While PTSD and other trauma disorders are prevalent, your experience does not have to show up in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to be defined as trauma.

Quick Facts About Trauma and the Brain

• Trauma doesn’t simply end with the event.

• Traumatic memories are stored all over the brain in a way that can show up as confusing and scary symptoms that interfere with daily life.

• The brain may reexperience these trauma memories in forms of distressing thoughts, images, movements, emotions, senses, and body sensations. This can often lead to self-blame, criticism and/or shame.

Humans are amazingly resilient and there are many factors that play a role in bouncing back after an adverse experience – However, it is important to remember that some of these memories are stored in a way that is outside of our control, thus leading to unwanted symptoms.

Trauma can -->

• occur once or occur multiple times

• arise from both indirect and direct experiences

• affect people differently

• affect both the body and the mind

• impact relationships

• create daily living stress

• develop into different diagnosis

• create complex emotions

Most Important Takeaway

Even in the face of the most devastating trauma or adverse events, your ability to heal as a human is astonishing. I believe each client has a fighter within themselves – own it and empower it. You can have the strength to bounce back from adversity, even when the bounce might hurt. Sometimes your healing journey might take some extra support. If you want to learn more about trauma or start your trauma healing, seek support from a trauma therapist.

References:

Marich, J. (2023). Dissociation made simple: A stigma-free guide to embracing your dissociative mind and navigating daily life. North Atlantic Books.

Walker, R. (2022). At the crossroads of trauma therapy: Integrating EMDR, SD, attachment repair & parts work. https://www.rachelwalkermft.com