Taking Your Power Back From Trauma Responses
Psychological trauma is defined as a shocking, dangerous, or distressing event that is experienced, either firsthand or as a witness. Over 70% of adults are estimated to experience at least one traumatic experience in their lives [1]. When we are faced with a perceived threat, our body naturally supports our survival with a physiological response that starts within our brain and nervous system, and we may respond in one of the following ways: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
1. Fight
Taking action or defending oneself against a threat.
2. Flight
Escaping or running away from a perceived threat.
3. Freeze
Becoming immobilized or unable to act due to a perceived threat.
4. Fawn
Appeasing or attempting to de-escalate a perceived threat.
If trauma remains unprocessed, we can find ourselves acting out these responses in situations that remind us of the traumatic event. In people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the body’s normal responses to triggering stimuli are altered, leading to an escalation of the stress response, even in neutral situations [2]. These unconscious trauma responses, when they appear in response to everyday situations that remind us of a traumatic incident, can dampen our ability to act in our best interest in our lives.
Unconscious trauma responses can affect everyday life in the following ways:
Aggression or anger outbursts
Controlling, or manipulating
Desire to belittle others
Explosive or violent behavior
Defensiveness
Irritability
Being overly self-critical
Lack of identity, or becoming a chameleon
People-pleasing
Feeling overwhelmed
Codependence
Having poor boundaries
Overworking, chronically busy
Anxiety, panic, lack of presence
Perfectionism
Avoidance
Analyzing instead of feeling
Obsessive Thoughts
Difficulty making decisions
Avoiding needs
Dissociation, feeling numb
Isolation
Procrastination
Exhaustion, excessive sleeping
Fight
Aggression or anger outbursts
Controlling, or manipulating
Desire to belittle others
Explosive or violent behavior
Defensiveness
Irritability
Flight
Overworking, chronically busy
Anxiety, panic, lack of presence
Perfectionism
Avoidance
Analyzing instead of feeling
Obsessive Thoughts
Freeze
Difficulty making decisions
Avoiding needs
Dissociation, feeling numb
Isolation
Exhaustion, excessive sleeping
Procrastination
Fawn
Being overly self-critical
Lack of identity, or becoming a chameleon
People-pleasing
Feeling overwhelmed
Codependence
Having poor boundaries
"Over 70% of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lives."
"Over 70% of adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lives."
How to take your power back from trauma responses:
How to take your power back from trauma responses:
Awareness
Noticing that you may be reacting to triggering situations through an unconscious trauma response is the first step toward healing.
Presence
Be present with the feelings arising, if possible, and ask yourself if this response provides a benefit to you, or if there may be healthier, more beneficial ways to support yourself.
Seek Support
Healing unprocessed trauma will deeply support you in finding peace from triggering events or stimuli. The MAP Healing Program can help you heal trauma at the core, allowing you to establish new, healthy habits, and keep them. Over 95% of MAP recipients continue to feel healed at the core of their trauma 2 years after completing the MAP Healing Program.
Connect with a MAP Practitioner today to learn how MAP can help you heal trauma at the core.
References:
- Benjet, C. et. al. The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. Psychol Med. 2016 Jan; 46(2): 327–343.
Sherin, J. E., et. al. Post-traumatic stress disorder: the neurobiological impact of psychological trauma. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011; 13:263-278.
References:
- Benjet, C. et. al. The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. Psychol Med. 2016 Jan; 46(2): 327–343.
Sherin, J. E., et. al. Post-traumatic stress disorder: the neurobiological impact of psychological trauma. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011; 13:263-278.
