Most of our guests will have experienced trauma at some point in their lives. It is important to be aware of how trauma may affect them and therefore any behaviours that might relate to this.
The brain’s normal response to danger is that the amygdala releases a surge of stress hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine etc.), a survival mechanism, sending someone into a fight or flight response. When the danger has passed the body is exhausted and it takes time to recover and return to a place of rest. This is designed to be a short-term reaction.
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA
EXPLAINING TRAUMA
“A response to discrete or prolonged circumstances which at some point is perceived by the person to be an uncontrollable serious threat to physical or psychological integrity and which some point overwhelms emotional resources” (Trauma Informed Working training-Wigglesworth and Hanson).
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA
Ongoing trauma and ongoing trauma experienced in childhood, or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) causes the brain and body to remain in a heightened state of tension, this leads to physical and mental ‘wear and tear’ on the body (allostatic load).
In children, ongoing ACEs, also reduce neural connections in the thinking brain, limiting cognitive ability. Remaining pathways to the thinking part of the brain are weakened and the pathways to the survival part of the brain strengthened, which effects their ability to cope with adversity as adults.
THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA
The main effects of trauma can be described under four headings: psychological, physical, emotional, and behavioural, though they will be interconnected.
Those who have experienced repeated trauma will usually also struggle with their mental health; anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) are frequent.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder where someone relives the traumatic experience/s through nightmares and flashbacks. This could occur immediately after a traumatic experience or weeks, months or years later. They may also experience the symptoms below:
THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA - EMOTIONAL
Trauma also effects the emotional life. Initial emotions might be fear, anger, sadness and shame. Survivors may also experience some or all the following at various points:
- repression of emotions, due to fear of losing control
- denial of feelings associated with the trauma
- numbness and lack of emotion
- low self-esteem and lack of worth
- feel different or see themselves as ‘damaged goods’
- somatisation (a focus on bodily symptoms as a way of avoiding emotional pain)
- dysregulation of emotions (anger, anxiety, sadness and shame)
- substance abuse
- compulsive behaviours e.g., overeating.
Survivors might also discover creative, healthy ways to channel their emotions such as physical fitness or a passion for helping others who have suffered as they had.
THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA - CPTSD
CPTSD can occur in someone who has experienced reoccurring trauma, such as violence, neglect, abuse or modern slavery. Complex PTSD is thought to be more severe if:
- the traumatic events happened early in life
- the trauma was caused by a parent or carer
- the person experienced the trauma for a long time
- the person was alone during the trauma
- there’s still contact with the person responsible for the trauma
As well as experiencing the symptoms of PTSD the sufferer of CPTSD could also experience:
THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA - PHYSICAL
There are many physical effects of trauma that are directly linked to the psychological disorders:
THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA - BEHAVIOUR
Many of the behavioural responses to trauma have already been mentioned as all four areas are so interrelated:
GUEST QUOTE
“When I go to bed I don ‘t shake, I’ m not scared to think of what’ s going to happen. I just feel I am a member of their family because they care.”
