Marcus Aurelius - “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
What are some common signs of trauma?
Hypervigilance, hyper- or hypo-arousal, avoidance behaviors, flashbacks, memory problems (fragmented or suppressed), dissociation, dysregulated emotions, relationship problems, addictions, self-harm, low self-confidence, shame, ANTs, weight changes, social withdrawal or increased social activity, difficulty articulating thoughts or views, a myriad of physical symptoms, and more.
Trauma is something that happens to you that is beyond your ability to respond to it.
Trauma does not stop when the event stops. It continues in the brain, creating maladapted neural networks saying “I’m not safe”, “I’m in danger”. Difficulty with coordinating thoughts and feelings.
Bessel van der Kolk on childhood trauma - 1. Problems with attention: ability to focus, get stuck, hijacked, 2. Affect regulation: emotions help organize what to do, where to go, how to orient our bodies. Traumatized people will get stuck in the emotions (too big or too quiet), leading to maladaptive behaviors (addictions, self-harm, eating disorders, ect.). 3. Relationships: the world is not a safe place, protective strategies come into play (aggressive, co-dependant, people pleaser, ect.)
Client statement once a childhood trauma came to light; “I know it’s true, but I can’t believe it.”
How does trauma affect our ability to feel pleasure and joy?
Epictetus - “Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.”
