Healing Trauma

1. Trauma is a physiological response, not just a psychological one

Trauma is not caused by the event itself, but rather by the frozen residue of energy that has not been resolved and discharged.

Biological roots of trauma. Trauma occurs when our nervous system becomes overwhelmed and unable to process intense experiences. This state of high arousal, if not discharged, can lead to long-lasting physiological changes. The body, in its attempt to protect itself, may become stuck in a state of hypervigilance or shutdown.

Symptoms beyond psychology. Trauma manifests in various physical ways:

• Chronic muscle tension
• Digestive issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Immune system dysfunction
• Altered heart rate and blood pressure

Understanding trauma as a bodily response opens new avenues for healing that go beyond traditional talk therapy.

2. The body's natural ability to heal from trauma through discharge

Animals in the wild instinctively discharge all their compressed energy and seldom develop adverse symptoms.

Innate healing mechanism. The body has an inherent capacity to release trapped energy and return to a state of balance. This process, often observed in animals, involves physical actions like shaking, trembling, and deep breathing.

Discharge in humans. While humans have the same biological mechanisms, our complex brains often interfere with this natural process. Healing involves:

• Recognizing and allowing physical sensations
• Completing interrupted defensive responses
• Gentle, gradual release of stored energy

By facilitating this discharge, we can tap into our body's wisdom and promote healing from even severe traumas.

3. Immobility: A survival response that can lead to chronic trauma

The immobility response is one of the three primary responses available to reptiles and mammals when faced with an overwhelming threat.

Evolutionary advantage. Immobility, or the "freeze" response, is a last-resort survival strategy when fight or flight is not possible. It can save lives by:

• Making prey appear dead to predators
• Reducing pain sensation during attacks
• Conserving energy when escape is impossible

Problematic persistence. In humans, this response can become problematic when it persists after the threat has passed. Chronic immobility may lead to:

• Feelings of helplessness and depression
• Disconnection from bodily sensations
• Difficulty taking action or making decisions

Recognizing immobility as a normal response, rather than a personal failure, is crucial for healing.

4. The felt sense: A key to accessing and healing trauma

The felt sense encompasses the clarity, instinctual power, and fluidity necessary to transform trauma.

Beyond emotion and thought. The felt sense is a bodily awareness that encompasses physical sensations, emotions, and instinctual knowing. It provides a direct link to our organism's needs and responses.

Accessing the felt sense. Techniques to develop this awareness include:

• Focusing on bodily sensations without judgment
• Noticing subtle changes in tension, temperature, or movement
• Allowing images or memories to arise from physical sensations

By cultivating the felt sense, we can access the body's wisdom and guide the healing process from within.

5. Renegotiation: A method for transforming traumatic experiences

Renegotiation helps to restore those resources that were diminished in the wake of trauma.

Gentle approach to healing. Renegotiation involves revisiting traumatic experiences in a safe, controlled manner. Unlike reliving, which can be re-traumatizing, renegotiation focuses on:

• Small, manageable doses of traumatic energy
• Pendulation between resource states and trauma states
• Completing interrupted defensive responses

Steps in renegotiation:

1. Establish safety and resources
2. Gradually approach traumatic material
3. Allow natural bodily responses to emerge
4. Support the completion of defensive actions
5. Integrate the experience

This process helps transform the trauma narrative and restore a sense of empowerment.

6. Memory and trauma: Challenging conventional understanding

Memory is not fixed images that we rely on, but recreations-imaginations- the past remolded in ways appropriate for the present.

Fluid nature of memory. Traumatic memories are not fixed, literal recordings of events. Instead, they are dynamic constructions influenced by:

• Emotional states
• Current context
• Previous experiences
• Physiological arousal

Implications for healing. Recognizing the malleable nature of memory allows for:

• Less attachment to the "truth" of traumatic narratives
• Greater flexibility in reframing past experiences
• Focus on bodily sensations rather than story details

This understanding can free individuals from the grip of traumatic memories and open new possibilities for healing.

7. Societal trauma: Breaking the cycle of violence and fear

Trauma has a frightening potential to be re-enacted in the form of violence.

Collective impact. Trauma doesn't just affect individuals; it can shape entire societies. Unresolved collective traumas can lead to:

• Ongoing cycles of violence
• Intergenerational transmission of fear and mistrust
• Rigid social structures and beliefs

Healing on a larger scale. Addressing societal trauma involves:

• Recognizing shared traumatic histories
• Creating safe spaces for collective discharge and renegotiation
• Fostering connection and empathy across divides
• Implementing trauma-informed policies and practices

By addressing trauma at both individual and societal levels, we can work towards breaking cycles of violence and creating more resilient communities.

8. First aid for trauma: Immediate steps to prevent long-term effects

Trauma can be prevented more easily than it can be healed.

Critical early intervention. The moments and hours following a potentially traumatic event are crucial. Proper support during this time can prevent the development of chronic trauma symptoms.

Key steps in trauma first aid:

1. Ensure physical safety
2. Provide calm, reassuring presence
3. Allow and encourage natural bodily responses (shaking, crying)
4. Avoid rushing to "fix" or downplay the experience
5. Gently guide attention to present-moment sensations
6. Facilitate gradual discharge of energy
7. Support completion of defensive responses
8. Encourage rest and integration

By providing informed support immediately after traumatic events, we can significantly reduce the likelihood of long-term traumatic impacts.

Last updated: December 12, 2024