WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Trauma is defined as distressing or disturbing experience. When we think of trauma we think about out of the ordinary experiences such as severe childhood emotional, physical and or sexual abuse, service-related trauma, and other extreme experiences.  But in reality, “PTSD and trauma-like symptoms may be the result of growing up in an alcoholic home, suffering a natural disaster, being physically or sexually abused, grieving the death of a loved one, being a child of divorce, experiencing religious and spiritual disenfranchisement, being involved in a motor vehicle accident, experiencing disease…undergoing surgery*” and more.

Common symptoms of trauma can include:

• Fear of the unknown – hypervigilance

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Depression

• Difficulty in relationships

• Loss of interest in things you once liked

• Increased desire to isolate

• Enhanced sensitivity and overstimulation

• Shame and worthlessness

• Not remembering certain things from your past

• Nightmares and flashbacks

• Recurring thoughts and memories

• Somatic symptoms

• Feeling ungrounded and scattered

• Difficulty concentrating and focussing

• Loss of a sense of Self and direction

• Irritability

• Difficulty trusting others or self

• Feeling unsafe

These symptoms are said to occur due to a fight/flight/freeze response that happens at the time of the traumatic event that was not fully processed. Our body/mind/and spirit go into a fight/flight/freeze response in order to help us feel safe. We develop unhealthy protective mechanisms to help us get through the painful event and keep going. The effects of trauma can stay stuck in our systems causing us to become triggered whenever anything consciously or unconsciously reminds us of the original trauma.

Some say that Trauma causes soul loss. We become fragmented which can cause tremendous inner turmoil and confusion, and many of the symptoms described above. It is said that the healing process is the retrieval of those parts of us so that we can feel whole again.

SOME BENEFITS OF HOLISTIC TRAUMA THERAPY

• Better self-esteem

• Increased inspiration and energy for life

• Clarity

• Improved relationship with self and others

• Self-worth

• Connection to the purpose and your authentic self

• Sense of gratitude and grace

• Improved mood and reduced anxiety

*INTRODUCING A TRANSPERSONAL, SPIRITUAL, HEALING FRAMEWORK FOR THE AFTERMATH OF TRAUMA\Ruth Grant Kalischuk, RN, PhD, Jason Solowoniuk, BHSc, MEd, and Gary Nixon,PhD