“Trauma is a psychic wound that hardens you psychologically and then interferes with your ability to
grow and develop. It pains you and now you’re acting out of pain. It induces fear and now you’re
acting out of fear. Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of
what happened to you. Trauma is that scarring that makes you less flexible, more rigid, less feeling
and more defended.”
— Gabor Maté
There are numerous definitions of trauma floating around in our world – and many situations, contexts, and experiences which may contribute to or trigger trauma. I’m going to draw from a few sources that describe trauma, but my purpose here is just to explore: how may our current situation (government, people in power, actions being taken and anticipated) be a potential source of trauma – to varying degrees – for a significant number of people in the United States? For you?
What IS Trauma??
Here’s another definition from Bessel van der Kolk, a psychiatrist who is well-known for trauma research:
“Trauma is an inability to inhabit one’s body without being possessed by its defenses and the
emotional numbing that shuts down all experience, including pleasure and satisfaction.“
— Bessel van der Kolk
Trauma may be triggered by a variety of events and experiences, for different people. For instance, someone who suffered from abuse as a childhood may be sensitive to certain kinds of behavior that do not affect others much. People may have different experiences: some may become paralyzed, while others may respond with aggressive behavior, or fall into terror.
Effects of Trauma
Here is a lengthy list of possible trauma effects, taken from the brief summary in “The Wisdom of Trauma Booklet”:
• Hyper-arousal: Increased heart rate, rapid or
difficulty breathing, cold sweats, tingling,
muscular tension
• Constriction in body and narrowing of perceptions
• Disassociation or Denial
• Feelings of helplessness, immobility and freezing
• Hyper vigilance
• Intrusive imagery or flashbacks
• Extreme sensitivity to light and sound
• Hyperactivity
• Exaggerated emotional and startle responses
• Nightmares and night terrors
• Abrupt mood swings: Rage reactions or temper tantrums, frequent anger or crying
• Shame and lack of self-worth
• Reduced ability to deal with stress
• Difficulty sleeping
• Panic attacks, anxiety and phobias
• Mental blankness or spaced-out feelings
• Avoidance behavior: Avoiding places, moments, activities, memories or people
• Attraction to dangerous situations
• Addictive behaviors: Overeating, drinking, smoking,
drugs, etc.
• Exaggerated or diminished sexual activity
• Amnesia or forgetfulness
• Inability to love, nurture or bond with other individuals
• Fear of dying or having a shortened life
• Self-mutilation
• Loss of sustaining beliefs (Spiritual, religious, interpersonal)
• Excessive shyness
• Diminished emotional responses
• Inability to make commitments
• Chronic Fatigue or very low physical energy
• Immune system problems
• Psychosomatic illnesses: headaches, migraines,
neck and back problems, chronic pain, asthma, skin
disorders, digestive problems
• Depression and feelings of impending doom
• Feelings of detachment, alienation and isolation (living dead syndrome)
• Reduced ability to formulate plans
• Re-enactment of the trauma
A lengthy list, but very useful to know about.
Different Kinds of Trauma
We may find it helpful to be aware of several different kinds of trauma. Shock Trauma is the trauma caused or triggered by a single event that comes as a shock and is over within a relatively short time. We may be temporarily paralyzed, feeling that our world has been suddenly shattered. Examples might be falls, accidents, attacks, natural disaster, invasive medical procedures – and of course, wartime experiences. Shock trauma may also follow the witnessing of such events as well as experiencing them directly.
While this kind of shock may be a normal response, we may also get “stuck” in shock trauma. Our nervous system may be unable to process our emotions. We can’t make any sense of the event, or some of our early trauma may be triggered. Then PTSD is a relevant description: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Developmental Trauma describes events in childhood that are so overwhelming – in intensity and duration – that the child’s nervous system is unable to process and mature in a “normal” way. Some sources include neglect, prenatal or perinatal trauma, loss of a significant person during the early childhood years, physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Thee kinds of early experiences may result in emotional numbness in adulthood, avoidance of potentially challenging situations, or intense reactions that result in impulsive or explosive behaviors.
Another form of trauma is receiving a great deal of current attention: Transgenerational Trauma, which is passed down through the generations. The recognition of this possibility is growing. Thomas Hubl is a widely recognized current expert, exploring this kind of trauma with individuals and large groups.
“Trauma” and “trauma”
We also need to be aware of an important distinction: there is Trauma and there is trauma. This is a helpful definition:
“Small” ‘t’ traumas are events that exceed our capacity to cope and cause a disruption in emotional functioning. These distressing events are not inherently life or bodily-integrity threatening, but perhaps better described as ego-threatening due to the individual left feeling notable helplessness.”
Understanding trauma is likely to be useful as we live through the early days of the Trump presidency. We need to recognize that some people may be experiencing actual Trauma, including immigrants (illegal and legal) and those who identify as transgender (trans). But many of us are probably feeling small ‘t’ trauma. In this kind of situation, where there may be continuing threats and challenges, we may experience “an increase in stress and emotional functioning.” (These descriptions of small-t trauma are borrowed from the work of Gabor Mate – see the source below.)
We don’t know what to expect as power is being wielded in unfamiliar ways – and sometimes by unexpected people. Some of us are glued to the news. Others are avoiding it as much as possible. Many of us are talking with friends and family, while some are concealing their stress in silence.
Moving Forward?
This is just a brief initial acknowledgement of what many of us here in the U.S. (and others around the world as well) may be struggling with. We will need to develop strategies for living in this reality – with a lot of emphasis on self-care (physical, emotional, social, spiritual). Those who feel called to take action may find it challenging to choose a particular path. Some will want to get involved in social-political action, others will write their Congress representatives, or create support groups. I imagine some books will be written…
I will probably be returning to this theme in the months to come: we all need support, suggestions, strategies… Take care of you and yours…
References:
(I am grateful for the wisdom and useful information embedded in these sources.)
https://thewisdomoftrauma.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Companion-Booklet.pdf (This booklet accompanies a film by Gabor Mate, The Wisdom of Trauma, https://thewisdomoftrauma.com/)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/trauma-and-hope/201703/different-types-trauma-small-t-versus-large-t