“Fortunately, the same immense energies that create the symptoms of trauma, when properly engaged, can transfrom the trauma and propel us into new heights of healing, mastery, and wisdom.”
Trauma Memories & The body
Traumatic memories are stored in our bodies. To ‘remember’ a traumatic experience is to experience it. ‘Re-member-ing’ is an experience of the body, re-lived at the somatic level. The experience has a tendency to take over our body through our nervous system and our 'emotional brain' resulting in feelings of over/underwhelm. These sensations may be so distressing that our ‘rational brain’ shuts down and we function from our ‘survival’ brain. Overtime, we may develop feelings of mistrust towards our own body.
When we deepen our understanding of the mind-body system we slowly begin to cultivate compassion, comfort, and safety within our body. A consistent inward practice of contemplative reflection and body-based therapies can empower us with resilience building tools which strengthen the mind-body relationship and contribute to emotional regulation.
INDIVIDUAL: DEVELOPMENTAL/SHOCK TRAUMA
Trauma can be described as the emotional, physical, spiritual and behavioral consequences that arise from experiencing or witnessing events which threaten our sense of safety. It can be a single event or the accumulation of distressing experiences which continuously overwhelm the nervous system over time. Trauma can take the form of physical, sexual and verbal abuse; grief; neglect/abandonment, and so forth. With just the “right amount” of support through healthy interpersonal relationships the individual may cultivate enough resiliency to establish healthy coping tools. However, when trauma is not addressed it has a tendency to seep into our everyday life, creating discomfort and mistrust of our bodies and of the world around us. This may lead to the development of unhealthy coping tools.
Through introspective writing, group sharing, and the integration of breath with purposeful movement, the healing circles create a space that cultivates connection between the mind and body while developing tools for inner and outer body-awareness and emotion regulation.
COLLECTIVE/SYSTEMIC TRAUMA
A complex and multifaceted category; at its’ core, collective trauma is the shared psychological impact experienced at the community level. Often the result of systemic racism, inequity and oppression leading to; forced displacement; social/health inequities; poverty; violence; war or political violence, and so forth. With barriers to basic necessities such as community safety and policing, healthcare, nutritious food, education and political representation, an entire community/population will experience social injustices, victimization/helplessness.
Similar to the mind-body interplay of trauma at the individual level, where one may feel disconnected/mistrust of their surroundings/their body, there exists a collective trauma which manifests within the community at large. Establishing mistrust towards the larger system in which one resides. This will lead to survival mechanisms that evoke interpersonal conflict, increased crime, and so forth, making the community even more vulnerable to further prejudices, racism, and cycles of violence and oppression.
Although this issue far surpasses the scope of my work; my intention when working with marginalized populations experiencing collective & racial trauma is to offer a space to empower folks with tools to dismantle internalized oppression, make room for self-regulation, resilience-building and community care.
CAREGIVERS: SECONDARY TRAUMA
Compassion fatigue, often experienced by caregivers (ex: mental health/social workers, family caregivers, health professionals, school teachers, hospice workers, humanitarian aid workers, etc. ) has a profound effect on the individual, wearing down the mind, body and spirit.
When compassion fatigue goes unidentified secondary trauma (or vicarious trauma) can arise. The caregiver begins to shoulder the emotional burden and responsibility and experience moral distress and possibly shifting worldviews. They may develop depression and feelings of powerlessness can manifest as the caregiver realizes that their survivor’s condition is linked to conditions beyond their control (ex: illness, natural disaster, socio-political turmoil, and so on).
Research shows that despite symptoms being disruptive and emotionally challenging, with deepened understanding and self-care practices one can initiate newfound resilience and positive change. Educating caregivers (trauma stewards) on the risk factors, signs and preventative self-care practices can provide essential relief and foster resilience for all involved.