Trauma is like a scratch on the soul, a sad song stuck on a loop, and a memory etched in a mind full of pain. The trauma caused by the weight of a war is easy to imagine. War veterans coming back with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) find it difficult to lead to a normal life. They become strangers in their own lives.But trauma isn't always about bombs and bullets. It comes in many forms, disguised as seemingly minor events....
Trauma is a widespread and devastating universal force
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event that overwhelms a person's ability to cope. Believe it or not, but it is a nearly universal human experience. We often associate trauma with extreme events like rape, abuse, or natural disasters, but there’s so much more to it. For one, it is unfortunately very common.A research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals some alarming numbers: every one in five Americans has experienced childhood sexual molestation; one in...
The impact of trauma
Trauma isn't just an unhappy feeling, it is a physiological reality! There’s actual changes happening in the brain.Studies on people with long-term PTSD found a surprising thing: the parts of the brain that help us feel emotions and sensations, our body's "feeling centers" were barely working. Experts believe this is the brain's way of trying to protect itself from the constant fear that follows trauma. Sort of how you put on earmuffs to block out loud noises. But these same...
The horrifying reality of childhood trauma
Childhood trauma is a silent epidemic. In a study by CDC, only one-third of respondents reported no childhood trauma experiences. While one might easily associate childhood traumas with physical abuse, emotional neglect can be equally devastating. A research conducted by Karlen Lyons-Ruth on children from 0 to 20 years of age found that a mother's emotional withdrawal had the most profound impact on children. This neglect of basic needs by caregivers leads to a constant state of high alert. Children...
Normal memories vs Traumatic memories
Just like the game of chinese whisper, our memories hold details which distort over time. Everyday events, like weddings or birthdays, often become blurry with repeated telling. We might remember feeling happy or excited, but the specifics - like the exact shade of a bridesmaid's dress or the intricate details of the wedding cake - tend to fade. However, traumatic experiences are etched in a very different manner into our memory. These events leave very clear imprints. Sensory details like...
EMDR to the rescue
David was haunted by a brutal attack. Traditional therapy wasn't helping him move forward, so he decided to try EMDR, a powerful approach for trauma recovery. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and here's how it helped David:During EMDR sessions, the therapist would guide David back to the details of his assault. He'd recall the sights, sounds, and even the physical sensations of the attack, like the pain and blood.While David revisited these details, the therapist wouldn't just...
Yoga for people having experienced trauma
In 1998, Dr. van der Kolk read about a new biological marker called Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Think of HRV as a measure of your body's "flexibility" – how well your nervous system adjusts to stress. When it's balanced, you can manage everyday frustrations and disappointments calmly.But low HRV, a lack of variation in heart rate with breathing, can negatively impact your mind, body, and emotions. It can make you more vulnerable to physical illnesses like heart disease and mental...
The Power of Presence and Support in Trauma Healing
Imagine a wave of emotions crashing over you – fear, anger, sadness. That's what Marilyn experienced. For years, she numbed these feelings with alcohol and exercise. But these tactics kept her stuck.The key to healing for Marilyn was mindfulness. Mindfulness isn't about ignoring your emotions; it's about observing them without judgment. Through techniques like meditation, Marilyn learned to step back and watch her feelings come and go, rather than being swept away by them. This allowed her to finally feel...
Training the Brain to Heal Itself With Neurofeedback
Imagine if you could look inside your brain and see the intricate patterns of electrical activity that make your trauma what it is. What’s more how about if you could reach in and fix the faulty wiring. How awesome would that be! Lucky for you, neurofeedback allows you to do just that! Many traumatized people show slow wave activity in the right temporal lobe, which is the fear center of the brain. With neurofeedback, they can literally rewire their brain...
Chapter 11
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Summary
Trauma may leave deep scars, but our brains and bodies have a remarkable capacity for healing and adaptation. With the right tools and support, it's possible to rewrite the narrative of our past experiences and reclaim control over our lives.Techniques like mindfulness, building strong support networks, EMDR therapy, yoga, and even new approaches like neurofeedback can all be powerful tools for trauma survivors. These tools help individuals understand, manage, and ultimately recover from their traumatic experiences.
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About the Author
Bessel van der Kolk MD spends his career studying how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences, and has translated emerging findings from neuroscience and attachment research to develop and study a range of treatments for traumatic stress in children and adults.
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