Moving Beyond the Grip of Trauma

““Trauma is the Trauma is the Most Most Misunderstood, Misunderstood, Avoided, Ignored, Avoided, Ignored, Denied, Denied, and Untreated and Untreated Cause of Human Cause of Human SufferingSufferingToday“Today“

…Dr. Peter Levine

This workshop is an Introduction This workshop is an Introduction to Understanding the Experience to Understanding the Experience of Trauma. We will Explore an of Trauma. We will Explore an

Authentic Way to Begin the Authentic Way to Begin the Process of Healing the Symptoms.Process of Healing the Symptoms.

This is important information for people who This is important information for people who

have symptoms of trauma. have symptoms of trauma.

This is also important for caregivers who haven’tThis is also important for caregivers who haven’t

had a serious direct experience of trauma, but had a serious direct experience of trauma, but who can benefit from a more who can benefit from a more “First Hand “First Hand

Experiential Knowledge” Experiential Knowledge” of itof it..

We are going to explore how the symptoms of trauma take hold.

Understanding how traumas occurs is the key to using this approach for self-directed care & recovery.

We’ll learn ways to deal with the overwhelming feelings which

accompany trauma.We’ll also discover how to find our

inner resources to begin the process of recovery.

the Grip of Traumathe Grip of Trauma

the Grip of Traumathe Grip of Traumathe Grip of Trauma

the Grip of Trauma

the Grip of Trauma

the Grip of Trauma

Two sources of Trauma

• Shock Trauma Occurs when we experience overwhelming event(s) which we perceive as life-threatening at any time in our life.

• Developmental Trauma Occurs from on-going childhood abuse(s) such as neglect, cruelty, inadequate nurturing or guidance at critical developmental periods while growing up.

Hypothesis: Hypothesis: Recovery from Trauma is Recovery from Trauma is

PossiblePossible• Humans have the capacity to overcome traumaHumans have the capacity to overcome trauma

• Getting beyond trauma is the doorway to Getting beyond trauma is the doorway to emotional balance and spiritual emotional balance and spiritual transformationtransformation

• Although there are various ways to approach Although there are various ways to approach the healing of trauma, the method we will the healing of trauma, the method we will explore in this workshop is a strongly explore in this workshop is a strongly effective approach for permanent results.effective approach for permanent results.

For more information on the research currently being conducted in Trauma visitFor more information on the research currently being conducted in Trauma visit

The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies at The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies at http://www.istss.org

/http://www.istss.org/resources/clinicians.cfm

Trauma is a Biological Response to Danger

• It’s an Instinctual Response

• Psychological and Cognitive Symptoms set in later because the natural functioning of the nervous system is compromised

• Unresolved trauma eventually effects our physical health too

That being Said…That being Said…

• The approach we will talk about today challenges psychiatric medicine, because this is a somatic approach to the healing of trauma

• Generally, psychiatric medicine treats trauma with talk therapy and drugs, but there are researchers who have not stopped there.

• From the perspective that serious trauma is biologically based, it makes sense that talk therapy can help the psychological symptoms of trauma, although it does little to relieve the biological symptoms of trauma.

• It is my understanding that many of us need both.

Trauma is traditionally Trauma is traditionally regarded as a psychological and regarded as a psychological and medical disorder of the mind. medical disorder of the mind. The practice of modern medicine The practice of modern medicine and psychology, while giving lip and psychology, while giving lip service to a connection between service to a connection between mind and body, greatly mind and body, greatly underestimates the deep underestimates the deep relationship they have in the relationship they have in the healing of trauma.healing of trauma.

…Dr. Peter Levine

Most trauma therapies address the Most trauma therapies address the mind through talk and the mind through talk and the molecules of the mind with drugs. molecules of the mind with drugs. Both of these approaches can be of Both of these approaches can be of use. However, trauma is not, will use. However, trauma is not, will not, and can never be fully healed not, and can never be fully healed until we also address the until we also address the essential role played by the body. essential role played by the body. We must understand how the body We must understand how the body is affected by trauma and its is affected by trauma and its central position in healing its central position in healing its aftermath. Without this aftermath. Without this foundation, our attempts at foundation, our attempts at mastering trauma will be limited mastering trauma will be limited and one-sided.and one-sided.

Quoted From

Waking the Tiger Healing Trauma

By Dr. Peter Levine

More necessary Things to More necessary Things to Understand About TraumaUnderstand About Trauma

The Experience of Body Sensationrather than Intense Emotion

is the Key to healing trauma

The Body wants to heal itself

When you begin to understand how trauma occurs and when you learn to identify the mechanisms that prevent it from resolving, you will also begin to recognize the ways in which your body attempts to heal itself

Quoted from

Aroused energy

Human Beings Seek Challenge and Excitement

The Natural, Healthy & Complete Arousal Cycle

• Body tensesBody tenses• Hyper-Hyper-alertnessalertness

• PreparednessPreparedness

• Mobilization & Mobilization & ActionAction

• ReturnReturn to Relaxed to Relaxed StateState

• Return to Return to EquilibriumEquilibrium

The Complete Biological Cycle of Trauma

The seed of the Traumatic Reaction is in

the arousal cycle • Arousal is the activity which energizes our survival response

• Hyper-arousal, coupled with the overwhelming immobilization of fear, when not completed, breeds the symptoms of trauma

• There are four core components present in a traumatic reaction

Hyper-arousal Constriction

Dissociati

on

Immobility

All symptoms develop from these four reactions, if the defensive, hyper-aroused energy which gets trapped at the point of immobility is not discharged in less than a few months.

What Goes Up, Must Come Down

• People long for challenge in life and arousal is the energy needed to meet the challenges

• A traumatized person has difficulty trusting the arousal cycle.

• Because trauma symptoms are hyper-arousal mixed with fear, a traumatized person will avoid or prevent the completion of the arousal cycle.

• The key to resolution is in the natural law, what goes up, must come down…in coaxing ourselves to trust the cycle.

Trauma is what Trauma is

Our response to a traumatic event is the significant factor, not the event that caused itTrauma is trauma, no

matter what caused it

trauma is trauma is trauma is trauma is trauma is trauma is trauma is trauma

Let’s Do some ExercisesThese exercises are for the care-givers who would benefit by having a more experiential understanding of this topic

The exercises will not traumatize, as they do not deal with trauma itself, but with our physiological responses which initiate the traumatic response

As a result of these exercises, it should become more clear why our response to a traumatic event is more significant than the event that caused it

Let’s Explore The Traumatic Reaction

further

Fight – we will fight if we can

Flight – we will run or escape if we can

Immobility – this is a little known and misunderstood biological survival reaction which is actually involuntary

Immobility: A Survival Response of both Man & Beast

In the natural cycle, after preparedness takes place, if

circumstances do not allow fight or flight, immobilization takes

over.

Immobilization is a biologically induced, natural

involuntary response.

Immobilization is a response which is also biologically

programmed into animals of prey, when they cannot escape their

captor.

It is the same response which overwhelms humans (and in the

same way) when serious danger or threat to life is perceived and

cannot be avoided.

You’ve heard the saying, “Playing

Possum?”

The North American Possum is very slow. If overcome by threat of death it will roll onto its

side in a death life pose, mouth open & drooling

From The Possum Pageshttp://opossum.craton.net/

Prey animals in the wild

have inborn,

instinctual protection from the long term effects of

trauma

If it were any other way, they would not survive

A Mega-Sophisticated Brain

The neo-cortex and frontal lobe of our brain, inhibit the completion of the Natural

Biological Trauma Cycle which is necessary in order to return to equilibrium after a

traumatic experience.

We’re so smart we over-ride our own instinct!We’re so smart we over-ride our own instinct!

• Having involuntary functions of the body is interpreted as being out of control which makes us feel that something is wrong

• We can also have feelings of shame about it• We dissociate from our body in the Immobility Response, that feels like death and we respond with fear

• If we do come out of immobility in the face of the threat, we fear our own rage in counter-attack

The Rational Brain The Rational Brain Judges… Judges… Our neo-cortex cuts off our biological cycle

because…

The Polar Bear Alert

Let’s watch a National Geographic Film clip of how a polar bear

biologically completes the natural cycle of a traumatic experience and

returns to equilibrium

The Up Side is…The Up Side is…• We do not need to re-live our We do not need to re-live our traumatic experience(s) to healtraumatic experience(s) to heal

• We can re-associate (or re-negotiate) We can re-associate (or re-negotiate) ourselves back into our body from the ourselves back into our body from the dissociation which occurs in trauma dissociation which occurs in trauma

• Although our brain is more Although our brain is more sophisticated then an animal, we sophisticated then an animal, we actually do possess instinctual actually do possess instinctual resources also, which we can learn to resources also, which we can learn to access to help us overcome the grip access to help us overcome the grip of trauma by completing the trauma of trauma by completing the trauma cyclecycle

How is the Brain Affected by Trauma?

Three areas of the brain are

usually effected by

trauma

Neo-cortex or Rational Brain

Emotional Brain (Limbic)

Reptilian Brain

(Instinctive)

Some or all of the brain functions in these areas can be inhibited by Trauma. Most frequently, the Reptilian area is over-ridden. This is the

beginning of trauma symptoms and psychological problems

The Recovery Process Can The Recovery Process Can Begin When it is Understood…Begin When it is Understood…

• That we have Inner Instinctual Resources That we have Inner Instinctual Resources we can accesswe can access

• That we can integrate the missing pieces That we can integrate the missing pieces to complete the cycleto complete the cycle

• That we can discharge (release) this That we can discharge (release) this hyper-aroused energy, and thus diminish hyper-aroused energy, and thus diminish our symptoms and transform our experience our symptoms and transform our experience

IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO RE-LIVE IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO RE-LIVE THE TRAUMA TO PROCESS IT AND THE TRAUMA TO PROCESS IT AND

DISCHARGE ITDISCHARGE IT

We can tap into our physiological resources to

heal our symptoms In order to be freed from our symptoms

and fears, we can get in touch with and arouse our deeper physiological resources and in the present moment, consciously

use them. We can train ourselves to change the

course of our instinctual responses in a proactive, rather than a reactive way.

Quoted from Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma by Peter Levine

Approach the Trauma Approach the Trauma Recovery Process Recovery Process Gently & SlowlyGently & Slowly

• The keys to healing trauma are body sensation and coming to understand what is actually happening in your body.

• Intense emotion inhibits our ability to allow the energy cycle to move through us and complete itself.

• A slow and gentle approach is necessary because this is powerful, wild hyper-aroused energy. It’s been trapped in the body from the time of the immobility, and must be released as gently as possible. In increments, through processing it, over time.

Essentials to Essentials to integrate integrate in in order to get results order to get results from this self-directed from this self-directed

care care

AcceptanceAcceptance

Recognize that You Are SafeRecognize that You Are Safe NowNow

Learn to over-ride the fear, and put it aside. It cannot hurt you now. Accept and allow what you feel in your body. Trust that as the energy moves through its

intended natural cycle, it is discharging

Allowing yourself to feel whatever you feel. It’s necessary to accept the condition of your body, nervous system, mind and heart. i.e., your muscles and body may be tensed for

defensive action, you may feel emotional hurt, your thoughts may race….

Rely on Your Inner StrengthRely on Your Inner Strength Feeling of helplessness, defeat and overwhelm

are the psychological result and the experience of immobility. Dissociate yourself from those feelings. The actual event will not be relived, but understand that these

feelings may come

Recognize Your Natural Recognize Your Natural AggressionAggression

Be aware of your sense of strength, natural

aggression and resilience. With this awareness, you are poised for healing and

recovery. Learn to recognize and allow your instinctive responses which come from your

instinctual brain.

Uncouple EmotionUncouple Emotion

Bound-up, un-discharged energy intensifies all emotion including fear. With intention to do so, use your willpower to uncouple yourself from the fear. Let it be OK for the fear to be there.. If you intend to do this, it will be so. The fear is joined with the immobility.... Discharging this

energy releases both the feeling of immobility and the grip of fear, allowing

you to move beyond trauma and toward transformation

Ground & CenterGround & Center

Trauma disconnects people from their bodies. Grounding and centering reconnects you

directly with your body and the resources which are naturally available in your own

body. Your body has an intelligence too. It will tell you things if you pay attention. It has a different type of intelligence than the

rational brain has.

A Word AboutA Word AboutThought & EmotionThought & Emotion

• Emotions are body sensations, but it’s important to avoid being carried away by emotion.

• Noticing thoughts is also important, but do not be carried away or absorbed by thought either.

 ResourcingResourcingOur instinctive resources can be many things…

memories, body sensations, feelings, and fleeting images. These resources can be drawn

into our awareness through the tracking process. Seek a supporting person to help

guide you in reclaiming these resources if this is a new idea or approach to healing for you.

Determining the Correct Determining the Correct Response as Your ResourceResponse as Your Resource

You will instinctively know what the correct response is as you track inside. Pay attention to it when it comes. At this point, you know when fighting or running is the appropriate response to the threat

and you can discharge the activated energy by following through with the action then and there by physically

acting it out.

TrackingTracking

This is a process of becoming aware and mindful of body sensation and images, and of learning to track sensations from place to place in your body.

PendulatingPendulating The more you find your resources, the more you will find a natural rhythm

that guides you back and forth between the present experience of your resource and the past defeat.

Let’s Learn How to Pendulate Now

Complete the CycleComplete the Cycle

Completing the trauma cycle Completing the trauma cycle discharges the energy that discharges the energy that

had been fueling the had been fueling the symptoms. symptoms.

Now your symptoms are free to Now your symptoms are free to diminish in strength and diminish in strength and frequency, or even to frequency, or even to

disappear.disappear.

Let’s Learn Some Let’s Learn Some Ways to Calm Ways to Calm OurselvesOurselves

Calming exercises will help you as you heal.

These are for calming down from aroused energy and

intense emotional reaction

For Grounding & Centering

• Stand with your feet shoulder width apart

• Feel your feet solidly planted on the floor

• Rock gently from side to side and then, from front to back

• Place your hands on your belly to locate your center of gravity about 2 inches above the navel

This Creates a Feeling This Creates a Feeling of Safetyof Safety

For a Sense of Empowerment & Healthy Aggression

• These exercises require a partner

• Counter Palm Pushing Palm to palm, push against your partners hands and notice the strength and force which arise from your core. The pusher slowly begins to exert pressure on the hand of the receptor. Practice the “feeling” of empowerment and healthy aggression from your innate physical strength.

• Counter Back Pushing Put yourself back to back with a partner. One partner pushes while the other matches the pushing with the same amount of resistance. Feel the power you have as you use the strength from your core and your legs

To Get Acquainted with Your Natural Sense of To Get Acquainted with Your Natural Sense of AggressionAggression

Shiatsu Finger Holds

jin shin jyutsu

Shiatsu Finger Holds Finger Holds Calm Emotion

Release and Balance the Energy of Strong Emotions

Hold each finger for a few minutes, wrap the opposite hand around the finger. Do this seated quietly or when you are experiencing strong emotions.

Effective at night before bed to clear the energy of the day and sleep soundly.

Or in the morning to start the day clear and centered.

Simply Hold Each Finger to Balance Emotional Energy Use either hand. Drains off over-intense energy and/or balance the energy flow. Through each finger runs a channel or meridian of energy

connected with corresponding organs in the body. Within a minute or two you will feel an energy pulse or throbbing

sensation. indicates that the energy is flowing and balanced Usually the strong feeling or emotion passes.

Shiatsu" is a Japanese word, literally meaning "finger pressure"

The Finger HoldsThe Finger HoldsBreath deeply as you do these exercisesBreath deeply as you do these exercises……

Inhale a Deep Sense of Peace and Security and Release Life’s Problems in the Midst of Them, Knowing

that You are Held and Cared for by Your Creator.

The ThumbAnxiety, Nervousness & insecurity. The thumb can help to discharge unnecessary worry and anxiety, saving energy for action. Breathe in comfort and safety, exhale angst.

Index FingerFear. Use this hold as a way to learn how to work with fear, rather than be its victim. Inhale courage and strength and exhale and let go of fear

The Finger Holds…The Finger Holds…continuedcontinued

Middle FingerAnger and rage. Hold the Middle Finger, exhale and let go of all anger and rage. Inhale compassion, energy, and passion for life

Ring FingerGrief, emotional pain and tears. Hold the ring finger, exhale all the grief and sorrow you feel. Breathe in deeply to fill yourself with peace and comfort. The finger hold does not repress tears or sorrow, but allows the energy to move through you until you feel calm

Baby FingerSelf-esteem, denial, confusion when feeling like a Victim. Hold the Small Finger and breathe deeply, exhaling and let go of feeling like a victim, let go of insecurity and unworthiness. Breathe in gratitude and appreciation for the life you have

Tapping for ClarityTapping for ClarityTap Your Acupressure Points

For Calming & Soothing Many Types of Emotion Upset

•Fear•Anxiety

•Depression•Memories

•Trauma Symptoms

•Nightmares

Also Known As Emotional Freedom TechniqueSee handout for more information

Breathing for Harmony & Breathing for Harmony & BalanceBalance

• Relax • Drop your shoulders and relax them • Bow your head• Allow a smile• Exhale… Releasing all of the negative energy. Use your mind’s eye to direct your energy down the front of the body as if the bad energy is sweeping off you as it reaches your feet

• Inhale… Use your mind’s eye to direct the energy upward and receive the Breath of Life… the Gift that it is

• Be the essence within your breath, it is what you are

• Do this several times each day for harmony and balancing

As you do this breathing, As you do this breathing, practice the Finger Holds for maximum benefit.practice the Finger Holds for maximum benefit.

Nerve Cleansing BreathNerve Cleansing Breath

• Use the thumb and ring finger to alternately open & close each nostril.

• Close the left nostril with the thumb and ring finger. Exhale as much air as possible, gently and slowly. Now gently inhale through the same nostril, filling the lungs.

• Change sides – close the right nostril with the thumb and ring finger - gentle and slowly repeating the pattern.

• Do not retain the breath, but strive for smooth transitions of breath. Repeat as many times as comfortable.

This is a simple, but powerful exercise which will help balance your nervous system, create more mental alertness,

healthier appetite, and deeper sleep.

Always do this while seated, Always do this while seated, as it can cause you to get light-headedas it can cause you to get light-headed..

Thank You Thank You for Being With Usfor Being With Us