Trauma Is The Great Silencer
With this article, Kimberly Fritsch, LAC finishes her series on understanding trauma. Catch up on her first and second articles here. This article focuses on stress responses through the lens of the violent incidents that have occurred around the US. Parents, please use your discretion as this article may not be suitable for children.
Everyone goes through stress; some more than others. And everyone has ways that they try to deal with stress in their lives, whether healthy or unhealthy. If stress wasn’t stressful, it would not carry the name of stress. However, persistent stress like trauma will without a doubt change a person completely from the inside out.
As we now have learned, trauma is known to destroy and will rob individuals of their lives and voice as if they are being imprisoned within their own skin. Currently, our society is being blasted with an increasingly loud message that we live in a vulnerable, unpredictable, and unsafe world. If you’ve been listening to the news, recent events of mass shootings in the past few weeks seem to be increasing around the US. The Uvalde school shooting is a prime example of how absolute terror and evil can dramatically traumatize even the most fragile of people: our children.
Trauma in the news
I read a recent interview of 11-year-old Miah Cerrillo who survived the Uvalde shooting by smearing her deceased friend’s blood on herself in the attempt to survive by “playing dead.” Miah was able to behave with such bold and amazing action. We often hear of unbelievable moves of action when faced with dangerous situations, but for me, this one is profound because I couldn’t have done what she did. She is now known as very brave and has earned the title of a ”Hero.” But I wonder if that is how she truly feels about herself. So how is it that some people seem to act in crises when others can’t?
The brain is always watchful for immediate threats or danger and continuously collects information both from the outside world and from the internal world of the individual. As the brain assesses this information, it will then guide the person by initiating a response that will keep him or her safe. These are known as stress or threat responses.
Fight, flight, or freeze
Generally, there are two stress or threat responses that people follow when they feel threatened. Some people will use the fight or flight response, others will use the freeze response, and many will use a combination of both. While the fight or flight response will propel active behavior in fighting off or moving away from danger, the freeze response is the complete opposite. Freezing is known as the dissociative response, which may look like a “giving up or surrendering.” No matter the amount of anxiety or tension, there will always be a response, and the style will look different for each individual when a threat or danger arises. Personality structure, family of origin, and societal and cultural norms are also key players in developing anxiety sensitivity and the type of stress or threat response people may use.
This makes me think of Miah. Trauma has already gripped her in the days that have followed the shooting. The only way she could recall how she lived through this horrific event and participate in the interview was to wear a weighted blanket wrapped around her throughout the entire process. In addition, her mother reported she is having sleep disturbances and any sudden noise or movement now signals immense startle and fear within her. While many of us may never encounter a traumatic event like a mass shooting in our lifetime, we too can be led to feel helpless and believe we cannot do anything to create change. Very devastatingly, this makes trauma the great silencer.
Tools to serve the victimized
God has the ultimate power to transform evil into a good purpose and plan, but there is hope. Below are just a few of the many tools that can serve as gifts for those victimized by trauma.
Power of prayer. Prayer is emphasized throughout the entire Bible to connect with God, and as faithful followers, we are called to pray without ceasing. Praying without ceasing is to be compared to the involuntary movement of blood flowing through our veins and the air filling our lungs. Please make a conscious effort to pray for those inflicted with trauma daily. Transformation is possible when the body of believers comes together united in prayer.
Practicing gratitude. Trauma leads individuals to feel hopeless. Finding a sense of joy again is vital for the individual’s well-being and to rekindle the human spirit. Practicing being grateful is one example of brain regulation for the prefrontal cortex region.
Comfort. What brings you comfort and calms you down?
Music. Music or sounds that resemble a rhythm like a human heartbeat can calm the nervous system and are considered the most soothing.
Movement. Slow body movements like rocking and linear motions that are repetitive in nature have a calming effect on the nervous system. Yoga is highly regarded in clinical research studies for its effectiveness with trauma individuals.
Individual therapy. Talk therapy is a big help if you find yourself stuck in unhealthy behaviors or thoughts, such as negative self-talk.
If you or someone you know is suffering from trauma, please reach out to a caring CCCRD counselor like myself for additional support through counseling. We are more than willing to help.