Healing From Trauma
Not everyone reacts to trauma in the same way. Just as pain thresholds differ, so do trauma thresholds. But as William Shakespeare wrote in his play Othello, “What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”
Having studied trauma intensively over the past couple of decades, researchers now know that a traumatic event’s impact depends on the perception of it. Perception is influenced by a number of factors, including age, physical characteristics, level of support, and so on. Thus, emotional trauma can result from a single extreme and deeply felt experience or from a series of low-intensity events. Even everyday happenings—falls, difficult births, betrayals, medical/dental procedures—can cause the same lingering traumatic effects as extreme or violent events, such as physical abuse, combat, or serious accidents.
Fortunately, even traumatic effects that linger for years can be resolved, and the result can be a new present-day reality that includes—but is not dominated by—a traumatic past.
“The same immense energies that create the symptoms of trauma, when properly engaged and mobilized, can transform the trauma and propel us into new heights of healing, mastery, and even wisdom,” writes Peter Levine, author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma.
The Natural Trauma Response
Levine and others contend that emotional trauma goes unhealed when the natural trauma response is interrupted and feelings unleashed by the event remain unresolved. Because of this, anxiety, anger, depression, guilt, hopelessness, self-blame, shame, and other feelings freeze up inside of us.
That “freeze” is not just emotional, but physical as well. Recent research indicates that parts of the brain become altered by traumatic events. These disruptions are actually visible on brain scans.
Just what is a natural trauma response? It’s the whole continuum of emotional and physical sensations that occur with the first inclination that something is wrong or dangerous. To understand it, Levine suggests that we look at how animals respond to danger, real or perceived.
After the animal has instinctively chosen to fight, flee, or freeze, and the danger has passed, it twitches and trembles throughout its entire body, essentially “shedding” the tension required for alertness and quick response.
Human response to danger—real or perceived—can also involve shaking, sweating, crying, laughing, or shuddering. Just like the animal’s reaction, such responses are natural and part of the body’s effort to return to a state of equilibrium. They are crucial to the recovery process, and they may go on for hours, days, or weeks.
Too often, however, we deny this process or don’t give it its due. We say to ourselves or hear from others, “Pull yourself together.” “Forget about it.” “Get up and shake it off.” “It’s time to get on with your life.”
And when we do that, when we ignore the emotional and physical sensations that continue after a traumatizing event, we interrupt the natural cycle, short-circuiting our natural ability to heal. It is this, more than anything, that sets us up for a damaging traumatic aftermath.
“The animal’s ability to rebound from threat can serve as a model for humans,” Levine writes. “It gives us a direction that may point the way to our own innate healing abilities.”
Life After Trauma
The incidence of serious negative events that typically evoke traumatic response is surprisingly pervasive in our culture today. A 20-year study released in 2005 by Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that of the 17,337 middle-class participants, a startling 64% had experienced one or more of eight categories of traumatic childhood events.
The study showed a significant connection between this childhood trauma and disease, depression, drug use, and/or suicide.
Perhaps that’s because unresolved trauma can undermine basic human needs. Dena Rosenbloom and Mary Beth Williams, authors of Life After Trauma: A Workbook for Healing, identify these basic needs as safety, trust, and a measure of control over one’s life, self-worth, and intimacy.
These writers and others stress that reliving one’s emotional pain is not necessary to heal trauma. For some, doing so may trigger re-traumatization. Focus on what you can do today. Pay attention to your feelings and reactions, seek helpful support, learn from others who’ve “been there,” allow yourself to grieve, and above all, take your time.
EMDR: Help Along the Way
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a simple technique that has been in use by specially trained, licensed clinicians for the past 30 years. It works quickly to reduce the anxiety and distress associated with upsetting memories, thoughts, or experiences – sometimes giving complete relief in just one or two sessions.
According to neuropsychiatric research, the human brain does not process overwhelming experiences in the same way that it processes other kinds of information. The upsetting experience is imprinted on the nervous system in a visceral way that exists separately from the rational, speaking part of the brain. This is why traditional talk therapy is typically very difficult for traumatized clients, and why it is so common for these visceral memories to remain, even after years of talking about them in therapy.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is very different from traditional talk therapy. The EMDR therapist does not ask the client to talk extensively about her upsetting experience. The therapist gathers just enough data to help the client imagine the upsetting feelings while asking her to watch the therapist’s hand move back-and-forth. These rhythmic eye movements calm the nervous system and allow the client’s brain to process her thoughts in a new way. Within minutes, the information begins to transform from a visceral memory into something less overwhelming.
In the early days of EMDR, it was believed that it should be used only to help survivors of catastrophic events who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. But in more recent years, EMDR has been widely applied to help people who struggle with all kinds of anxiety and distress. Hundreds of studies have shown positive outcomes for people of all ages and backgrounds.
About the Author
The Athena Center offers women of all ages a safe place to explore solutions to the challenges that life offers. Utilizing a holistic approach, the center provides psychotherapy services and treatment in eating disorders, depression and anxiety in individual and group therapy. New to the center is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidenced based psychotherapy technique shown to be effective for the treatment of trauma and psychological stress.
Lower back Pain sports Injuries trauma self treatment
|
|
Solaris (Score) $9.98 … |
|
|
TRAUMA VS ANDY FARLEY / GET BACK / DON’T STOP B/W TRAUMA VS UK GOLD… |
|
|
Spine Trauma (Advanced Life Support Series, Volume 6) … |
|
|
Understanding and Handling Back and Neck Injury Cases: Anatomy [Volume 1] $75.00 (1 VHS Video) The Understanding and Handling Back and Neck Injury Cases videotape covers: the anatomy. Contents: 1) Anatomy of the Container: The Spinal Column: General Attributes, Special Regions, Intervertebral Disc. 2) Anatomy of the Contents: Blood Vessels, Dura and Pia; Spinal Cord; Suprasegmental System. 3) History and Physical Examination: General Exam; Neurological Exam; Trouble Shoot… |
|
|
Fully Stocked Stomp Medical First Aid Kit Back Pack $359.99 Fully Stocked Stomp Medical First Aid Kit Back Pack. This is the model FA140. (AVAILABLE IN BLACK, RED & TAN, please specify with payment). The Stomp Medical Kit has a variety of contents and is used by professionals including medics and army personnel. The backpack is available in three colors, black, coyote tan, and red. The bag contains many velcro and zippered compartments for easy access to o… |
|
|
Gerber Hinderer Rescue Knife with Serrated Edge and Sheath $60.06 Designed by knife maker and firefighter Rick Hinderer, the Gerber 22-41534 Hinderer Rescue Knife boasts a smart, user-friendly feature set that delivers reliable handling in the toughest situations. A true rescue tool, this knife showcases a strong, sharp blade with a serrated edge, a hook cutter, and an ergonomic grip that’s easy to hold while wearing gloves..caption {font-family: Verdana, Helvet… |
|
|
Arsenal GB5243 Polyester Trauma Backpack, Blue $39.50 Arriving at an accident scene in record time wont help if all the supplies dont arrive at the same time. Eliminate those worries – and the potential for tragedy with Ergodynes Trauma Series bags. WorkSmart Trauma Bags Feature: 600-denier polyester fabric 1560 cu in storage Foam padded interior & sides Heavy-duty carry handles ID card window Reflective trim & striping&nb… |
|
|
Boiron Homeopathic Medicine Arnicare Gel for Muscle Aches, 2.6-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 3) $22.99 Generations of athletes, trainers, doctors, and parents have relied on one little-known homeopathic remedy to relieve muscle aches and pain. That mystical miracle cure: Arnica Montana. Arnicare Gel contains 7% arnica, and goes on grease-free to provide quick pain relief. The special Arnicare formula works wonders on minor sports injuries, strains, aches, stiffness, swelling and bruising. Simply ap… |
|
|
First Responder Trauma Bag- Fully Stocked $95.99 UNIQUELY DESIGNED FIRST RESPONDER KIT FEATURES A RUBBERIZED BOTTOM PANEL, DELUXE SHOULDER STRAPS, VELCRO HANDLE CLOSURES, REFLECTIVE STRIPS, AND PADDED LINER WITH 12 ADJUSTABLE COMPARTMENTS. ALSO INCLUDES 3 RIP FREE POCKETS! Measures 20″W x 9″H x 13″D 5 1/2 Bandage Scissors Kelly 5 1/2″ Straight Forceps Mini Scalpel, Disposable Dixie Emergency Airway Kit cold compress Liquid Glucose Wire Spl… |
|
|
Boiron – Arnica Montana 30c, 30c, 80 pellets $4.99 Boiron – Arnica Montana pellets are convenient to carry, easy to use (taken orally) and provide systematic action to the whole body to bring relief to everywhere you hurt. For adults and children 2 years of age and older: Dissolve 5 pellets in the mouth 3 times a day until relieved or as directed by a doctor…. |