Trauma Interferes with Emotional Health
Although people have been experiencing trauma since the beginning of time, only recently have researchers truly begun to understand the mechanism of trauma.
Arousal either activates or shuts down certain physiological reactions that prepare the body to fight danger, to run away from danger, or to numb the pain response if the danger proves fatal. This is known as the fight, flight or freeze mechanism.
Because we are animals too, human beings share the fight or flight or freeze reaction. These responses are instinctual and automatic.
The roots of trauma lie in an instinctive physical fear response that has become suspended in our brain and nervous system.
Thus begins a downward spiral of increasingly devastating symptoms such as sleep problems, forgetfulness, headaches, irritability, intrusive thoughts, phobias, anxiety attacks, and so much more. These are all symptoms of hyper-vigilance (fight or flight).
When your body cannot sustain constant hyper-vigilance, the freeze response is activated. Symptoms include a loss of motivation, indecision, confusion, physical pain, numbing, fatigue, body tension, isolation and depression.
Furthermore, trauma symptoms are very commonplace and often misunderstood or unrecognized. Sometimes, indicators of trauma can remain hidden for years and then suddenly surface.
There are two different levels of trauma, both responsible for complex symptoms.
1) Big-“T” Trauma origins are buried in horrific experiences such as:
There are other events that can create problematic trauma symptoms. These incidents include:
2) Small-“t” Trauma:
While most people recognize the negative effects of extreme forms of trauma, such as abuse, violence and crime, they may be unaware that seemingly benign childhood or adulthood experiences can lead to widespread and hidden after-effects that are just as debilitating.
The origins of small-“t” trauma lie in those unresolved moments, often in childhood, when you felt overwhelmed, powerless and confused. Examples include being seriously scolded by a teacher or teased by a schoolmate. It can even be a single statement such as, “You’re getting fat," made by an authority figure that then sticks with you.
In adulthood, these moments are frequently perceived as unimportant. However, they can create a significant amount of stress, physical symptoms and even cause shifts in personality!
Arousal either activates or shuts down certain physiological reactions that prepare the body to fight danger, to run away from danger, or to numb the pain response if the danger proves fatal. This is known as the fight, flight or freeze mechanism.
Because we are animals too, human beings share the fight or flight or freeze reaction. These responses are instinctual and automatic.
The roots of trauma lie in an instinctive physical fear response that has become suspended in our brain and nervous system.
Thus begins a downward spiral of increasingly devastating symptoms such as sleep problems, forgetfulness, headaches, irritability, intrusive thoughts, phobias, anxiety attacks, and so much more. These are all symptoms of hyper-vigilance (fight or flight).
When your body cannot sustain constant hyper-vigilance, the freeze response is activated. Symptoms include a loss of motivation, indecision, confusion, physical pain, numbing, fatigue, body tension, isolation and depression.
Furthermore, trauma symptoms are very commonplace and often misunderstood or unrecognized. Sometimes, indicators of trauma can remain hidden for years and then suddenly surface.
There are two different levels of trauma, both responsible for complex symptoms.
1) Big-“T” Trauma origins are buried in horrific experiences such as:
- childhood abuse, neglect and a lack of basic safety
- critical events (crime, accidents, fire, etc.)
- sexual abuse and sexual assault
- natural disasters
- birth trauma and surgery
- death of a loved one
- physical or psychological violence or torture
There are other events that can create problematic trauma symptoms. These incidents include:
- workplace harassment, stress, conflict, and termination
- bullying
- the ending of a relationship or friendship
- the death of a pet
- moving or other significant change
2) Small-“t” Trauma:
While most people recognize the negative effects of extreme forms of trauma, such as abuse, violence and crime, they may be unaware that seemingly benign childhood or adulthood experiences can lead to widespread and hidden after-effects that are just as debilitating.
The origins of small-“t” trauma lie in those unresolved moments, often in childhood, when you felt overwhelmed, powerless and confused. Examples include being seriously scolded by a teacher or teased by a schoolmate. It can even be a single statement such as, “You’re getting fat," made by an authority figure that then sticks with you.
In adulthood, these moments are frequently perceived as unimportant. However, they can create a significant amount of stress, physical symptoms and even cause shifts in personality!