Festering Trauma

"Trauma is not what happens to us, it's what we hold inside, 

in the absence of an empathetic witness."

Peter Levine 

Trauma is not exclusively a major event.  It can be an occurrence on a minor level that becomes wedged deeply in our emotional bank.  To someone else, it may not even be noticeable; but on a personal level, it may be devastating and agonizing.

When not witnessed,  a simple incident may be repressed with excruciating pain.  It can be relived mentally, triggering and deepening the wound.  Even though it may be a slight occurrence to others, the unaddressed damage can become paralyzing. 

When we are able to accept the need for healing, we can bring our pain to the surface sharing with a trusted friend, therapist, creative expression, meditation or the written word.  Once we begin to release without judgement, a glimpse of hope can move us beyond the memory, propeling us forward.

 

The Non-Verbal Realm

"Trauma is not what happens to us,

but what we hold inside

in the absence of an empathetic witness."

Peter Levine

IN AN UNSPOKEN VOICE

Currently, I have been working on a presentation about Articulating Silence which embraces concepts about learning to listen to the authentic voice, unwrapping layers of emotional triggers, and the power of personal voice.  Peter Levine discusses this in his book, IN AN UNSPOKEN VOICE, stating, "The key to healing, he argues, is to be found in the 'deciphering of this nonverbal realm.'"

There are many differing levels of trauma and as one experiences it without verbalizing it in some way, the experience creates an inner vulnerable place.  This place is like sticky like glue collecting all future emotions similar to what was felt during the trauma experience creating grooves in side of us.  These patterns are run over and over again, reenforcing the negative emotions still trapped inside.  We are triggered by something similar to our trauma whether it is taste, smell, touch, hearing or seeing.  Our body responds from numbness to freezing emotionally.

These unaddressed vulnerable areas may or may not be recognized as such, as many individuals go into an automatic pilot to withdraw or isolate, fight or flight, or dissociate.  These combustable emotions must go somewhere and at some point be addressed.

Professional intervention is always helpful, but depending upon the level of trauma, there are other ways of recognizing and releasing the emotions.  A person does not have to 're-live' the trauma in order to release it.  One must discern the vulnerability and the negative emotions encompassing it.  Body work or energy work is very helpful in eliminating repression.  Some people may experience a release through artistic expression, meditation, or sharing with a compassionate friend.  Again, one does not have to relate the exact experience.  The focus is on recognizing the disharmony within, discerning the trapped emotions, and voicing them for release.  When we are able to allow a compassionate listener to witness our tender emotions, we soon begin to realize we are not alone and there is a community of others like us.