Trauma is a big word describing a strong, negative reaction to a challenging experience. Imagine something scary or upsetting happening, like a bad accident, losing someone you love, or being hurt by someone. These experiences can be so shocking and/or hurtful that they leave a deep mark on your mind and heart. This mark is what we call “trauma.”
What is Trauma?
Trauma is the unique individual experience of an event or enduring conditions. It is impacted by:
– What happened: The nature of the event itself.
– When it happened: The time in your life when the event occurred.
– How often it happened: Whether it was a one-time event or something that happened repeatedly.
– Who caused the trauma: The relationship to the person or people who caused the event.
– Who can help: The availability of support from friends, family, or professionals.
– Personal Resources: Your own coping styles and cognitive abilities.
Consider when you get a physical injury, like a cut or a bruise, to make it easier to understand. Trauma is like a bruise on your emotions and thoughts, a mark that hurts on the inside.
How Trauma Affects Us
Understanding the different scales of trauma helps us grasp the wide range of effects it can have on our lives. When we go through something traumatic, it can change how we feel, think, and act. Here are some ways trauma can affect us:
– Feelings: You might feel sad, scared, angry, or anxious more often than before. For example, you might cry easily or get upset over things that wouldn’t have bothered you before. You may even exhibit over-the-top reactions to small things. I was notorious for not being a morning person and would give you verbal whiplash if you dared say good morning to me.
– Thoughts: You might keep thinking about the bad event, even when you don’t want to. These thoughts can pop up anytime, like when you’re trying to sleep or even when you’re having fun with friends. Sleepless nights are real. So are the reels your brain will continually replay.
– Body: You might always feel tired, have trouble sleeping, or get headaches and stomach aches. It’s like your body is carrying the weight of the trauma, too—because it is! There’s evidence that trauma is stored in your body. As much as I am not a physical person, exercise helped my mental health more than anything. Paired with deep breathing, this was my recipe for managing my trauma triggers initially.
How Trauma Changes the Brain
When we experience trauma, it can change the way our brain works. The part of the brain responsible for our fight or flight response can become overactive, making us more anxious and on edge. But the good news is that healing can also change the brain. By talking about our experiences, seeking therapy, and practicing self-care, we can help our brains recover and become healthier.
I found that therapy helped me rewire my brain. Through talking and processing my trauma, I started to feel calmer and more in control of my emotions.
Exercise and movement can also help rewire the brain after trauma. Physical activity boosts the production of endorphins, which can alleviate anxiety and depression. Movement-based therapies like yoga and dance are also effective in reducing trauma symptoms and enhancing mental health.
Why Understanding Trauma is Important
Knowing about trauma helps us understand why we feel the way we do after something terrible happens. It can also help us understand how to support others through a tough time. When we understand trauma, we can start to heal from it.
Understanding trauma is like having a map when you’re lost. It shows you where you are and helps you figure out the best way to get where you want to be.
Understanding my own trauma helped me realize that I wasn’t broken or weak. I was simply reacting to a very painful experience, and that realization was the first step toward healing.
Different Reactions to Trauma
Everyone reacts to trauma differently. Some people might become quiet and keep to themselves, while others might become angry and lash out. It’s important to remember that there’s no right or wrong way to react to trauma. What’s important is finding ways to heal and feel better.
My brother, two years younger than me, entered foster care alongside me. He was a troubled kid who caused a lot of trouble. While he was lashing out and starting fights, I turned inward and became quiet and depressed. Trauma is unique to the individual, including how it is processed.
Coping with Trauma
Here are some simple tips to help cope with trauma:
– Talk to Someone: Sharing your feelings with a friend, family member, or therapist can help you feel less alone. For instance, finding a community and talking to people who understood my experience made a big difference in how I felt.
– Write it Down: Keeping a journal can help you process your thoughts and emotions. Writing about my feelings and experiences helped me make sense of them and feel more in control. I have always been able to express myself better this way.
– Take Care of Your Body: Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising can help you feel better physically and emotionally. I noticed that regular exercise helped me release some of the stress and anxiety I was feeling, as much as physical activity isn’t my thing. It not only helped me stay fit but also taught me how to relax and breathe through my anxiety.
Remember, healing is a journey, and every step you take toward caring for yourself is a victory.
What to Expect in This Series
Over the next few weeks, I will share more about trauma to understand it better together. We will talk about different types of trauma, how it affects us, and ways to cope and heal.
To recap what we learned, trauma is a profound emotional response to distressing events, and it affects each person uniquely based on various factors, such as the nature of the event, its timing, frequency, and the support available. Understanding trauma helps us recognize how it impacts our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and underscores the importance of seeking help and practicing self-care.
Remember, healing from trauma is a journey, and acknowledging your experiences is a vital first step. By exploring different aspects of trauma and learning effective coping strategies, we can better support ourselves and each other. Stay tuned for the upcoming posts, where we’ll delve deeper into types of trauma, signs to look out for, and practical ways to foster healing and growth.
Let’s continue this journey together, supporting one another as we move toward a healthier, more resilient future.
A Quick Look at What’s Coming:
– Types of Trauma: Different kinds of trauma
– Signs of Trauma: How to tell if you or someone else might be dealing with trauma.
– Healing from Trauma: Ways to start feeling better and moving forward.
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