Most people experience some trauma in their lifetime. Many would not call their experiences "trauma" or are even aware that they have had to survive unsafe and threatening circumstances or relationships in their childhood. Because the child knows nothing else, and what is happening is not being called trauma or abuse, children often do not think of their experience this way. In many cases, there can lots of missing pieces or periods of time in a trauma survivors memory of their childhood. And what is remembered is not perceived as trauma because it was "normal".
So let's start at the beginning. What is trauma? While this word is thrown about and used to describe many experiences in current day, it actually has a very specific definition in the research and clinical world. Trauma is defined at an overwhelming experience where a person perceived their life and safety to be threatened. This can include car accidents, combat trauma, natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) or experiences of assault and/or abuse.
Trauma can be a "single incident" (e.g. car accident) or an enduring circumstance occurring over time, such as a Domestic Violence Relationship or Childhood Abuse. Neuroscience as made great strides in the last 30 years in understanding what happens in the human brain when the brain detects "danger". Because important parts of the brain shut down (and essentially stop processing what is happening), traumatic memory gets stored as sensory experiences, flashes or fragments of visual memory or "body memories".
After trauma, the brain remains "on guard" and vigilant (and therefore more prepared) for the next trauma. When one is having repeated triggered experiences, they experience "symptoms", not knowing that these are "body memories" of trauma. Some survivors fear they are "crazy" as the symptoms can arise suddenly and seemingly without a clear cause.
Very often, it is only when a survivor enters therapy that they learn that what they experienced was trauma. They often feel they should be able to "get over" something that happened so long ago. Or they feel ashamed as if they are somehow defective. Many survivors believe that the trauma was their fault.
If you wonder or suspect that you may have experienced trauma, Dr. Hoekstra can help you to explore this concern--gently and at your pace The first step is stabilization and offering resources to help temper sudden reactions and offer relief.
If you live in Fairfax, VA or you live in a Psypact-Approved State (over 40), Dr. Diane Hoekstra's Practice, Your True North, LLC is available to help you organize and understand what you are experiencing.
"IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU" (Courtois, 2014).
And, your symptoms are normal for someone who has experienced what you have experienced.
Diane M. Hoekstra, PhD
(571-989-6100 x 101.
