Trauma will taint every experience we have in our lives from there on; either we will be reminded of it, or we will try to numb ourselves from it.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is a residue from an intense experience, either born out of a one off experience, or over a prolonged period of time. The experience affects the mind so intensely, that it causes the brain and inversely the body to go into a state of heightened awareness to deal with the stress.
Unfortunately this heightened response (burst of energy and emotional overwhelm) imprints itself into the mind and the body. So when we are triggered by memories, people, even sights or smells connected with the experience, it causes an automatic response to said trigger, bringing the whole memory or elements of the experience, back to our awareness.
This causes the mind and body to literally relive the experience, albeit unconsciously. But the affect always has polarizing results, from either side of the scale; from rage to complete disassociation and everything in between.
Over time we accept these unconscious reactions, as the normal way we live in the world, and our reactions and responses play out the same way every time. We often feel frustrated that we have an inability to control our emotions, feel flooded by grief and fear, and wonder why we suddenly feel like a helpless child again. These feelings come from deep inside our brains and cannot be eliminated by logic and reason.
Therefore approaching the depths of trauma can have its challenges.
The main way our minds approach trauma is to hide from it. This is because certain experiences were/are too overwhelming to cope with and is why it becomes the body's job to hold the stress of the impact, away from the awareness of the conscious mind.
Unfortunately, this in turn creates a distance between our minds and our bodies. Which is called alexithemia; a sense of disconnect that hampers our ability to sense and communicate what is going on for us.
Only by getting in touch with our bodies, connecting to ourselves viscerally, can we regain a sense of identity, presence and self-awareness.
Which is why many therapeutic techniques to help with trauma attend first to the body and the senses, before going to the story.
The following are tools and approaches which attend to the body first, which can be implemented into the session. Some may only apply in face to face sessions. However Most can be offered online.
Grounding Techniques
Grounding techniques are practical actions that help to bring one into the present. i.e noticing what they are feeling in their body; whether they carry pain somewhere, i.e. sense a weight on the shoulders or a tightness in the chest etc. There are also awareness exercises to help one become more present. e.g. noticing the floor beneath their feet, or taking in what is happening in their environment and so on. These awareness activities help one to become more embodied and present. Which can be helpful at the beginning of a session.
Therapeutic Breath work
The power of harnessing breath to bring one out of a high stress response has been done for centuries. It helps to calm the sympathetic nerve, bringing the mind into equilibrium by countering the effects of stress and anxiety. It also creates a spaciousness and supports focus. This too can be provided in a gentle way at the beginning of, or throughout the session.
Music and Sound Modalities
As highlighted in another blog post, music and sound has the ability to center the body and sooth the mind. It may help an individual to embody a specific emotion and can also be used as a tool to provide relaxation and presence. This too can be offered online and is particularly helpful within sessions for creating a comfortable space when working with severe trauma.
Massage and restorative touch
Physical touch carries with it the ability to sooth, hold and heal. Not only can massage sooth the body, but it can also often unlock places of tension and stress which will in turn unlock emotional pain and trauma. This, for obvious reasons, can't be provided by the therapist online. However, there may be times in session that one may feel something bodily, that may require attention; be it a sudden tightness or a stab of pain associated with a feeling or an emotion. When in session online, self-massage may help to attend to the pain, which can be guided by the therapist.
Externalizing Objects
Sharing or expressing something for the first time may be challenging, not only to face, but also to verbalize. Externalization can help to show what is going on inside, without having to feel overwhelmed by the feeling or sensation. One may draw, choose a piece of music, or an object to represent either a part of themselves, a feeling, or an experience. This can help to provide enough distance from their experience, that they are able to approach that which has felt completely inapproachable in the past. This tool is particularly helpful early on in treatment.
Many of these approaches work better for some, than others, and finding what fits for each individual may require some experimentation. These are all gentle approaches that will never be pushed on the client. They are offered at the individual's pace, with empathy and regard for their individual needs.
D.Dawson@relationalpurpose.com
References
Kolk, B. V. (2014). The body keeps the score: Mind, brain and body in the transformation of trauma. Penguin UK.
Susan McConnell, C. (2020). Somatic internal family systems therapy: Awareness, breath, resonance, movement and touch in practice. North Atlantic Book
Sweezy, M., & Ziskind, E. L. (2013). Internal family systems therapy: New dimensions. Routledge.
Westmacott-Brown, N. (2019). Breathwork: Use the power of breath to energize your body and focus your mind. Dorling Kindersley.
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