Understanding Trauma: Exploring The Foundation And Path To Healing
Defining Trauma
What is trauma, and what makes an event traumatic? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, trauma is a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience that can affect someone emotionally and physically. Traumatic events can include natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes), acts of violence, mistreatment or neglect, or harmful behavior. Trauma is any event that profoundly impacts the mind, brain, and subconscious, leaving an indelible mark. Imagine an earthquake causing seismic shifts in the earth's structure. Similarly, trauma causes tectonic shifts in our psyche, leading to lasting effects. Our resilience allows us to navigate numerous challenges, but traumatic events leave deep wounds that significantly alter our mental and emotional landscape.
It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic experience. The "fight-or-flight" response is the body's reaction to the fear. People who have trauma responses feel anxious, sad, or angry. They have trouble concentrating, sleeping, and focusing. There is often a continual pattern of thinking about the event, reliving or replaying it, and imagining alternative scenarios to avoid it. The traumatic event usually becomes intrusive in people's lives, impacting their physical health, mental health, quality of life, and relationships.
Trauma can be:
Physical, such as physical or sexual abuse.
Verbal, like ongoing mistreatment and hurtful language.
Emotional and Psychological, often less visible but just as impactful.
Spiritual, affecting our beliefs and sense of self.
Types of Trauma
Trauma can be acute, caused by a single incident or on-going. Chronic trauma is the result of repeated and prolonged exposure to abuse (physical, verbal, emotional, etc.) Complex trauma is the result of experiencing a multitude of traumatizing events over time, often becoming more interpersonal in nature and having an impact on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels of the human.
Trauma can be categorized into two primary forms: simple and complex. Simple Trauma: This refers to isolated, one-time events. For instance, a woman who experiences a singular incident of rape. While deeply traumatic, the isolated nature of the event makes it relatively easier to treat compared to complex trauma. Complex Trauma: This involves repeated exposure to traumatic stimuli over extended periods. Psychological and verbal abuse within a household, stretching from childhood into adulthood, is a prime example. Complex trauma's ingrained nature makes it more challenging to address, especially since its effects are not always physically visible.
To illustrate the profound impact of trauma, consider this personal story: In 2017, I was burned in a fire and spent two harrowing weeks in the burn unit of a Chicago hospital. The experience was fraught with mistakes by the medical staff and excruciating pain from wound debridement. Years later, just the thought of revisiting that hospital made my body shaky and weak—a clear trauma response. This example underscores that trauma can cause both immediate and enduring psychological effects. Recognizing these responses is a vital first step in the healing process.
The Path to Healing
Acknowledging the trauma is crucial. The subconscious mind often gets stuck in the traumatic moment, unable to perceive that the event has ended. Therefore, creating a safe space for healing—typically with the help of a therapist—is essential. This space allows for exploring past events, not to relive the pain, but to understand and process it from a place of survival and recovery. For instance, someone diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school might carry the hidden trauma of feeling "stupid" despite later achievements like attending Harvard or becoming a doctor. Recognizing the profound impact even seemingly minor events can have on our long-term mental health is critical to understanding trauma.
Understanding trauma is the foundational step in our journey toward healing. Trauma isn't just the event itself but its profound, lasting impact on our psyche. Recognizing and acknowledging these impacts, whether from isolated or prolonged traumatic experiences, is the first step toward healing. Stay tuned for our next entries, where we will delve deeper into the impacts of trauma on the mind, body, and relationships and discuss strategies for overcoming these challenges. Remember, the worst is behind you, and understanding is the beginning of recovery.