The symptoms we call trauma
are part of a normal, natural reaction to danger.
The only problem is that the reaction is incomplete.
The body responds to anything seen as a threat by
preparing to fight or flee. This stress response also has a third
component: the freeze. When our instincts tell us that a threat is
overwhelming, we automatically go into a freeze state rather than fighting
or fleeing. Later, after the threat is over, the body is designed to
"thaw out" by releasing the pent up energy. This happens through
literally shaking it off, with cycles of trembling, shaking, and internal
changes such as the release of heat. Each wave of release is
followed by a deep full-body breath and a feeling of relaxation. When the
process is allowed to fully complete the body has regained equilibrium.
Animals in the wild, who share this basic process, allow it to fully
complete and are unlikely to be traumatized. As humans we tend to try to
stop this natural release, partly because it involves giving up conscious
control of our body to an instinctual process that feels scary. The
result, the pent up energy has to be managed by the body. This takes
a lot of energy and creates such symptoms as tension, pain, anxiety, etc.
To read more about the symptoms of trauma click
here.
Examples of
events which may be traumatizing:
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Car accidents, even near misses
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Bicycle accidents
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Medical procedure, especially with
general anesthesia
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Dental procedures
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Falls, even without physical injury
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Near drowning
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Witnessing violence or someone else's
trauma
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Life-threatening illness or high
fever
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Abuse or other physical attacks
-
Natural disasters
-
Sudden loss of loved one through
death or divorce
A few simple techniques can prevent
trauma symptoms from ever developing. To read about what to do following
everyday events like simple falls or other accidents, see
first aid for trauma prevention.
To make an appointment for a trauma healing session see
appointments.
