In recent times, maybe prompted by COVID, there is much talk and interest on trauma. This is the first of a number of short blog pieces on the topic of trauma. I thought I would start by looking at what ‘trauma’ is. Surprisingly, it is hard to find definitions of ‘trauma’. Mind states:
‘Going through very stressful, frightening or distressing events is sometimes called trauma. When we talk about emotional or psychological trauma, we might mean:
- situations or events we find traumatic
- how we’re affected by our experiences.
Traumatic events can happen at any age and can cause long-lasting harm. Everyone has a different reaction to trauma, so you might notice any effects quickly, or a long time afterwards.’
To fully grasp all aspects of trauma can be a complicated thing simply because it can affect each person differently. A way of understanding trauma is from an energy perspective. When we experience trauma, there is an energetic spike cause by emotional, biochemical and reflexive responses and our ability to process this energy such that the arc of the energy spike completes its cycle will depend on a range of factors of which social/ environmental factors play an important role. Because we have memory, each time we remember the incident, the thought could trigger another set of psycho-physiological responses, another energy spike. Once again, the intensity of this thought and our ability to deal with this recall will differ. This recall is registered in our body as if it is the present and maybe this is how a traumatic event becomes ‘trauma’.
The Association for Biodynamic Massage Therapists (ABMT) which I belong to, describes ‘trauma’ by the effects trauma has on us. The Association makes a difference between Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with the latter possibly leading to Complex PTSD. This differentiation is also in-line with the GCMT (The council for Soft Tissue Therapies). For PTSD and CPTSD, psychotherapy with specific training in trauma is usually necessary.
For Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), it is what Biodynamic Massage Therapy can help to support and address. In addition, what I normally term ‘Residual Trauma’ is where individuals have already had specialist support such as counselling, psychotherapy and/ or physiotherapy. In such instances, the intense and debilitating effects of trauma has already been addressed however, there remains, traces or residual or underlying shadows that still linger unresolved. For example, after an accident, someone may have had medical intervention, physiotherapy rehabilitation, counselling or psychotherapy and for most part, they are ‘back to normal’ but there is still a feeling of general tension or anxiousness that still lingers. This type of residual trauma is not uncommon and Biodynamic Massage Therapy is usually very helpful. This is because trauma and the impact of trauma is not only an emotional, cognitive or psychological thing, it is also a body thing. Each time we experience something, our bodies register this experience and our bodies respond to this experience. Tissue, muscles, structures can remain held in tension outside of our awareness and often not in the areas we think the origin of the tension might be.
The range of traumatic experiences is broad and uniquely felt by each person. This means the impact of the trauma on an individual is subjective and hard to predict and how an individual’s body mind system organises itself around the trauma is unique. Working together with someone to help resolve and dissolve trauma require patience, a trusting relationship and a constant tuning in by listening to what is spoken and unspoken, what the body feels like, sensing what is needed and an openness to look for a way to provide that which is needed in the moment through the body. In my experience, having a shared understanding of how an individual’s body-mind system processes and adapts to the ‘imprint’ of trauma is a necessary part of the healing process. Whatever we do together is unique to each person’s journey towards integration, health and wellbeing.