Trauma

Recent Events Trauma

Recent events trauma is also referred to as the big “T” including the criteria necessary to diagnose PTSD, such as (major disaster or accident) rape sexual molestation or combat experience and clearly has an impact on its victims in terms of how they behave, think and feel about themselves and their susceptibility to symptoms, such as nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts.

(Source: Shapiro, Francine; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) 2001

 

Childhood trauma

Childhood trauma also known as developmental trauma has resulted from something that was said or happened to them (as a child) and became locked in the nervous system seems to have an effect similar to that of a traumatic experience. Childhood trauma can also include big “T” trauma from events like physical and sexual abuse.

(Source: Shapiro, Francine; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) 2001

 

Developmental Trauma

Developmental trauma results from among other things the disruption of the connection between the child’s primary caretaker, the absence of empathy and emotional and sensory support necessary to learn how to regulate the emotional world.

(Source: Fisher, Sebern; Neurofeedback in the treatment of Developmental Trauma. 2014)

 

Intergenerational Trauma Challenge

Reluctance to work on the challenges of developmental or childhood trauma ironically originate for many individuals in the source of the trauma: their parents.

Beliefs like; “spanking and beatings were part of our family’s culture and my parents gave me everything I need” can prevent individuals from working on their negative self beliefs like; “ I’m worthless” or “I will be abandoned.”  It seems to imply a betrayal of the parents which can prevent work on the individual’s trauma which is causing problems in their present life.

As an expert in the field, Bessel van der Kolk, MD and author of The Body Keeps the Score said:

… intergenerational trauma doesn’t occur magically through the air.  It occurs via the (inability of the parents to regulate their own emotions) and cannot be fully there for their kids- to calm them down, to make and quietly enforce the rules, and to be there steadily.”

“If you are a parent who mentally disappears for days in a row, who blows up and screams in the middle of the night and cannot sleep, and walks around the house like a trapped animal, the kids are going to pick up that fear and that becomes their fear…”

Source: National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine