Trauma and why its important

The area of trauma is a fascinating exploration into the lives and psyche of each individual. Traumatic events are as varied as the individual who experiences them. Simply stated, a trauma is any event that overwhelms an individuals internal (endogenous) and external (exogenous) coping mechanisms. These are the core beliefs, values, inner strengths that hold a person grounded in life as well as the support systems, i.e. job, family friends, associates, ... that they can go to when they are troubled. Two pathways exist to enter into a traumatic event. There are those events that blind side us and overwhelm all prepared schema. This what happens in combat, accidents and violent assaults. Rare is the time that anyone mentally prepares for these events in they regular life. During my years as a felony probation officer, I also filled the position of officer safety trainer. In that capacity, it was my job to come up with trainings to challenge and stretch the comfort level of the officer so that little would overwhelm them. "What if" drills and live fire shoot don't shoot practices to keep them thinking. But how many of us in our daily life thinks this way. "What if" I am sexually assaulted tonight? "What if" I hit someone and they die? No, these are not the mindless thoughts of the average person and so when they experience this in their life, it is overwhelming and debilitating. Traumatic.

The second way that an event becomes traumatic is when all of the defenses and plans that were thought through fail. When eventually there are no internal or external supports and the event is overwhelming. This is trauma just as the first, only slower and more subtle. In this scenario, there are no "what if's" because it is not something that can be foreseen. For instance, a child may endure months of repeated and daily verbal and emotional abuse (we will leave the physical alone for now) and looks forward to going to school each day so that he can be with his loving and very understanding teacher (exogenous) where he can find relief and acceptance. As the day grows late, this child begins to steel up any inner strength that they can to prepare for what they may receive upon arriving home. Now imagine a change. The teacher who has been such a beacon for the child takes a position that takes him out of the class and is often out of the building. Now the child's external supports are gone and they are left to what little they have in reserve internally. Tonight, with the grief of losing his teacher and his outside support, the abuse and neglect seem unforgiving and beyond anything he can bare. The child is now experiencing trauma. His stores are exhausted. He is deeply wounded and mental schemas are shaped that guide every action from that point forward.

The joy in the study and treatment of trauma is that through the expressive arts (another discussion) pathways are opened that allow the wounded individual to facilitate a deep healing. Often this healing and awareness happens at a level that can not be reached with words alone. A recent event will illustrate. I have client who I have been working with off and on for about a year. This is a wonderful person who has suffered many traumatic event of both types. Recently we worked with sand and kids toys. I asked this client to create an image of the events that are most troubling. This way they could use pictures and symbols, not words and hurtful recollections to recreate the events. They felt them and knew what the image was. Then, guiding the process, I had them change just one thing. reauthor the memory. What transpired as they began to recreate was beautiful. I watched as this client took control of situations where control was taken from them. They triumphed over those that hurt them. Symbolicly, but yet deeply real. I still do not know what those images and events were. I do not need to. They new them and they felt the inner strength to address and attack them.

Trauma affects each and every one of us and will be a part of the fabric of who we are through out all of our lives. What we choose to do with these events and their scars on is is under our control. I get the great honor of experienceing that everytime I am with a client.