We have all experienced trauma of some kind. And if you think you have not, we have all been through the COVID pandemic, and that was traumatic for the entire human race.
Trauma, and how each one of us is affected, is relative. It depends on so many factors, so no person’s experience is exactly the same as another. There are similarities, but we are unique individuals because personality, past experiences, environment, and support structures all influence how a traumatic experience affects us.
How does this impact the workplace? How does trauma affect our colleagues, friends, and family? How does it impact you and me?
What is trauma?
Trauma results from exposure to an incident or series of events that are emotionally disturbing or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being (SAMHSA).
Trauma experiences cause intense physical and psychological stress reactions.
Back in 1990 the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched an extensive investigation into Adverse Childhood Experiences (now known as the ACE Study) to determine if there was a link between childhood trauma and the effect on health and well-being as adults. The study covered carefully defined categories of adverse childhood experiences, including physical and sexual abuse, physical and emotional neglect, family dysfunction, like divorce, mental illness, addiction, or imprisonment. Included was being a victim or witness of violence. The results revealed a direct correlation between childhood trauma and health and well-being as adults.
Over the years there have been multiple studies worldwide, and the correlations between higher ACE scores and personal suffering are irrefutable. As adults, there are correlations with greater workplace absenteeism, financial problems, chronic depression, suicide attempts, addictions, obesity, unintended pregnancies, STDs, heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. Trauma experienced as adults have similar outcomes.
How can trauma be linked to personal suffering?
There is a network in the brain specifically designed to ensure our survival. There is a whole-body response to threat. Threat triggers a pre-programmed physical escape plan in the survival brain (or primal brain). When this system takes over, it partially shuts down our conscious mind (pre-frontal cortex) and propels the body to run, hide, fight, or freeze. By the time we are fully aware of the situation, our body may already be on the move. If the flight/fight/freeze response is successful and we escape the perceived danger, our body slowly recovers, and we ‘’regain our senses.’’
If for some reason, the normal response is blocked, for example, if someone is held down, or trapped, like in a war zone, car accident, natural disaster, domestic violence or rape, the brain keeps secreting stress chemicals (hormones) and its electrical circuits keep firing in vain. Long after the actual event the brain will keep sending signals to the body to escape a threat that no longer exists. Those stress hormones create havoc over time in our bodies.
Effective action ends the threat. Immobilization keeps the body in a state of inescapable shock and learned helplessness. Being able to move and do something to protect oneself is essential to prevent the long-lasting effects of a threatening situation.
The overwhelming experience becomes fragments of emotion, sounds, images, thoughts, and physical sensations, and they can take on a life of their own. While the trauma remains unresolved, the stress hormones keep circulating, and the sensory fragments of memory intrude on the present. This affects a person’s ability to function day-to-day, the quality of relationships, and has a long-term effect on general health and well-being.
If someone is stuck in survival mode, their energies focus on fighting off unseen enemies and leave no room for nurture, care, and love. As long as the mind is defending itself, our closest relationships are threatened, along with the ability to imagine, plan, play, learn, and pay attention to other people’s needs. Trauma changes our perception of risk and safety.
How does this impact our daily lives?
While people have unique experiences, there are some common symptoms. They may be hypervigilant or on high alert for signs of danger and be easily startled or jumpy. Their survival system will be easily triggered whether consciously or unconsciously, and they will have a very low window of tolerance which means they can be easily overwhelmed or prone to extreme emotions.
Certain situations at work or play may trigger a trauma response. Since trauma is about perceived threat and lack of safety, the individual may or may not be able to think clearly and be able to choose a rational response. More than likely, their default survival strategy will kick in. People around you may over-react to a perfectly innocent sound (like a car backfiring or firecrackers going off), a gesture (you might reach into your pocket for your phone) or an event, like a storm or siren or alarm, or even certain facial expressions or tone of voice. They may be dysregulated all day as a result.
What can we do to help?
Gaining a deeper insight into the experiences of colleagues, friends, or family enhances your ability to show empathy and compassion. Providing felt safety, understanding, and support can significantly ease their stress. If practical, engage in deep breathing exercises together, emphasizing longer, gentle exhales to reduce heart rate. It’s also important to encourage seeking professional assistance. Trauma inevitably touches lives, whether directly or indirectly. Remember, recovery from trauma is a journey that requires supportive presence and connection with others.
Let’s not ignore the reality of trauma and its impact on us and those we care about. We need to apply greater compassion and understanding and meet people where they are at, not where we think they should be. And remember, everyone experiences trauma differently. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. To quote Ted Lasso, ‘’Be curious, not judgmental.’’
Source Material and Recommended reading if you are looking for more information about this:
“The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, MD
“It Didn’t Start With You” by Mark Wolynn
“Trauma and Recovery” by Judith Lewis Herman, MD
“Trauma and the Body” by Pat Ogden, PhD