What is trauma?

Trauma changes the way that you see the world. What once was safe, now has the potential for danger. Whether this be in relationships, walking around outside, driving or even in your home, you never feel completely safe.

The trauma response is a way that we protect ourselves from danger. This can look like a racing heartbeat, shakiness, hypervigilance, ease of being startled, memories that come back without trying to recall them, and trouble breathing (just to name a few). Our bodies utilize these responses in order to avoid potential threats. For example, if growing up you were harmed by a relative, you may find it hard to have physical connection with other people without a trauma response occurring. In some ways our body is doing us a HUGE favor and in some ways it is recreating the trauma on accident.

There is hope. These responses do not have to last forever. With therapy, support and safe community these trauma responses can decrease over time. The body over time can begin to differentiate what safety is and is not. Utilizing therapy that is trauma focused, utilizes Polyvagal theory and parts work can be a gift given to the body.