What is trauma?
We as a collective society have attempted to ascertain how trauma impacts our bodies and minds through psychological, physiological, neurological, and even spiritual perspectives. There have been monumental advancements in the study of trauma, its causes, and attempts at resolution. As greater research is being conducted by great minds, we learn more about what trauma is and what is does to the body and mind — in an aim to greater respond to its impacts in an adaptive way.
From a trauma informed perspective, trauma defined is a collection of overadaptations to emotional pain that exists outside of our threshold of tolerance. This perspective asserts that when we confront emotional pain that is beyond our ability to cope, we will respond in self preserving ways that feel adaptive in the moment, but can cause greater maladaptive challenges in the future.
For example, a child whom had to respond to emotional abuse from their primary caretakers can respond to unmet needs with isolation — out of an instinctual fear that connection is unsafe (e.g. "why put myself in the situation to feel greater dissapointment."). If this coping tool of isolation is seen as a safety protocal, the child can use this skill into adulthood, following this narrative of supposed safety. The challenge can occur when the child recognizes that, as an adult, isolation will create similar pain that they once attempted to avoid. (e.g. The new narrative becomes, "People can not be trusted to fulfill my needs — I am better off alone.")
If unchecked, these overadaptations can augment our lives in negative ways as we continue to replay the same narrative that once kept us safe as children that will no longer keep us safe in adulthood — as the landscape of our lives might be very different in the present moment.
Though there are multiple definitions regarding where trauma comes from, what is the most important in learning more, is what speaks to you as an indiviudal. Whether you are traveling on the road of epigenetic study, psychology, neuroscience, or spiritual understanding — all of these perspectives will lead you to a greater multidisciplinary understanding of what trauma is and how to work towards greater resolution.
To learn more about how learning how various perspectives on trauma can provide pathways to post traumatic growth, feel free to contact me with further questions that you might have or view the links below to helpful resources.
Trauma is not a road that you will need to travel alone, and I look forward to supporting you on your individual journey.
