June has had me thinking about how we can better support our loved ones who have experienced trauma.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to post-traumatic stress, better understanding how traumatic experiences affect the brain and body is crucial when finding treatment and providing support. As trauma affects us all differently, it can be confusing for the loved ones of traumatized individuals to know how to meet them with the level of support they need. We might find ourselves fumbling for the right thing to say and worrying we are giving too much or too little attention to their needs.
There are some key guidelines to keep in mind when deciding how to respond. First, you don’t need to have all of the answers. Listen first, and then ask gentle, open-ended questions. Second, do some research. To facilitate this process, I have collated a series of blogs on understanding trauma and the different approaches to treating the long-lasting effects that it can have. Finally, respect your loved ones’ wishes, as their boundaries and needs to stay psychologically safe might have changed.
Healing from trauma can be a long and non-linear journey that requires great resilience and patience. Reliable, respectful, and open-minded support systems can make all the difference, so let’s ensure that we are there for each other when we need it most.
Monthly Blog Round-Up
The following is a round-up of our monthly blogs in case you missed any on our social media pages.
Shame is often intimately linked with the experience of trauma. When a person survives a deeply distressing event, they may internalize a sense of guilt, self-blame, or embarrassment, which can lead to feelings of shame.
This emotional response can intensify over time and hinder the healing process. Shame can manifest as a belief that the trauma was somehow their fault or that they are fundamentally flawed as a result. Overcoming shame is an important aspect of trauma recovery, as it involves recognizing that the responsibility for the traumatic event lies with the perpetrator and not the survivor.
Trauma release exercises (TRE) are somatic practices for people with anxiety, trauma, or PTSD that are gaining popularity and recognition around the world. TRE is designed to specifically target unresolved traumatic memories or experiences stored in the body.
The tension-and trauma-releasing exercises trigger neurogenic tremors that allow the body to reduce the charge of stress hormones and unhealthy chemical build-up. By repeating the exercises and activating the tremor mechanism, re-organizational behavior emerges, which lowers stress and tension and returns the body and nervous system to a healthy baseline.
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development. This transition from childhood to adulthood is a profound and intricate journey that can shape a person's life dramatically.
It is a time when young people experience significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes as well as increased responsibilities and expectations. This transition is not merely a chronological progression; it encompasses a complex interplay of social, cultural, and personal factors that contribute to the development of a person's identity and a variety of essential life skills.
Trauma-release exercises (TRE) are innovative, body-based practices for people with anxiety, trauma, or PTSD. The theoretical basis for TRE is that stress and trauma build up and become stored in the body. Lack of tension release can cause dysregulated nervous systems, often resulting in conflict, aggression, stress, and other negative side-effects.
Shaking is the body’s natural reaction to stress or trauma, and people often experience this reaction after a car crash, fearful experience, or accident. While it is often seen as a negative response, researchers in the field of trauma and therapeutic bodywork state that this response is potentially therapeutic.
