Trauma is largely misunderstood and would be better named as “severe stress response”.
Despite commonplace approaches to this kind of experience, treating trauma does not need to require reliving the event or, most times, even telling the story! Healing does not include funny breathing or loud exclamations. In fact, simple, gentle direction of attention is far more effective, healthy and safe.
What is Trauma?
Typically, trauma is defined as an overwhelming event that, in some way, produces a sense of threat. In the SE model, trauma is not about the event itself but by the energy that gets trapped in the body due to the inability to respond to the event in a natural manner. While there may be emotional responses to these kinds of stressful events, ultimately, the trauma is what is happening in the nervous system.
How Do I Know if I Have Been Impacted by Trauma?
Highly stressful events are often things that we remember, may have trouble letting go of, or blank out entirely. Some of these events may not involve anyone actually hurting us, such as prenatal or birth issues, car accidents, falls, injuries, etc. Notice if you have experienced any of these symptoms that are associated with trauma:
? Hyper-arousal – feeling revved up most of the time
? Constriction – tightness, stiffness
? Dissociation – fuzziness, heaviness, sleepiness
? Freezing – blankness, immobility
? Unexplained physical ailments
? Hyper-vigilance – watchfulness, hyper-alertness
? Intrusive imagery or flashbacks
? Extreme sensitivity to light or sounds
? Hyperactivity
? Exaggerated emotional or startle responses
? Nightmares and night terrors
? Abrupt mood swings
? Reduced ability to deal with stress
? Difficulty sleeping
? Panic attacks
? Mental blankness or spaciness
? Avoidance behaviors
? Attraction to dangerous situations
? Frequent crying
? Exaggerated or diminished sexual activity
? Amnesia or forgetfulness
? Inability to love, nurture, or bond with others
? Fear of dying, going crazy, or having shortened life
? Inability to make commitments
? Chronic fatigue or very low physical energy
? Immune system problems
? Endocrine problems (e.g., low thyroid)
? Psychosomatic illnesses, particularly headaches, neck and back
problems, asthma, digestive, spastic colon, severe premenstrual
syndrome
? Depression, feelings of impending doom
? Feelings of detachment, alienation, and isolation (the ‘living dead’)
? Feelings of helplessness
? Diminished interest in life
If any of these pertain to you and you know or suspect that you have experienced a significant stressor, please read about and consider Somatic Experiencing®.
