What is trauma?
The same way falling down is part of riding a bike, trauma is to life. To be alive means we will all encounter trauma at some point.
Big “T” Trauma, in the clinical sense, is defined as a major overwhelming event. Little “t” trauma is defined as the chronic long term harmful effects that wear us down over time. Trauma can leave us feeling like there was a world and version of ourselves before-and-after an overwhelming event. It can make the world a lonely, dark, and confusing place. Trusting ourselves and others can become a rarity that is hard earned.
As a trauma informed specialist and fellow human who has taken a few falls and gotten back up, I help clients transform trauma narratives to regain a fulfilling life.
Sexual Trauma
Sexual trauma has a strange way showing up. At times we can block memories of harm out, feeling numb and emotionally detached from the world. Then while out with friends or shopping at the grocery store, a smell, a face, a sound, takes us back to the worst moments of our lives. Other times, the emotional and physical responses send us into a spiraling survivor mode with habits like double checking doors are locked, scanning rooms for exits, and avoiding certain spaces and people all together.
It’s common to not be able to speak about sexual trauma until many years later. The ways sexual trauma impacts our sense of self, safety, trust, intimacy, and feeling ownership of our own bodies cannot be ignored. Acknowledging and addressing these impacts can be a difficult and painful process.
It takes immense courage to speak up and seek healing, especially when society often blames and silences survivors. It’s crucial to have a safe space to heal. There are many ways to address sexual trauma in therapy. Together, we can work towards finding the route that is right for you. It is possible to feel safe in your body again.
Generational Trauma
Generational trauma refers to the emotional and psychological wounds passed down from one generation to another. These traumas may include experiences of war, persecution, racism, abuse, poverty, illness, domestic violence, betrayal, hostile divorce, constant yelling and outbursts of anger at home to name a few. Generational trauma leaves lasting effects that can be transferred to subsequent generations.
It shows up in ways that often surprise us because its affects become ingrained in family dynamics and cultural norms, perpetuating cycles of pain and suffering. Anxiety over; having enough of ______, “I’m becoming my mom/dad”, and, “I don’t want to do it like them”, are just a few examples of what generational trauma can sound like in us. Things like behavioral patterns, coping mechanisms, and even physical health issues have also been linked to generational trauma.
Breaking this cycle requires recognizing and understanding the trauma, fostering healing and resilience within ourselves, and working towards creating a more supportive and inclusive community around us.