The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Part 3
PART 3/4
How Does Trauma Impact Us?
When we feel stressed out or overwhelmed for a long period of time, our body begins to develop what we call “adaptive strategies,” to help us cope with whatever it is that we’re going through. For many people, these strategies aren’t really strategies at all – they’re merely dependences, like alcohol, drugs, food, or even sex or work. They bring temporary relief and are a poor attempt at recalibrating our ANS so that we can get our states back in check.
However, these adaptive strategies simply don’t work long-term and most of the time, they exacerbate the problem. The key is understanding just how trauma impacts us.
What Is Trauma?
Each and every last one of us will go through a wide spectrum of events and experiences that all have the potential to inflict trauma. Typically, there are three ways to break down trauma, each with its own ability to impact our ANS and throw it out of regulation or calibration.
Shock Trauma
Shock trauma is the type of mental trauma that can be caused by a catastrophic event. Typically, this type of trauma would come from a car accident, an assault or a robbery, or a natural disaster. It occurs when something unexpected happens that sends your body into the mobilized or immobilized state unexpectedly.
Developmental/Relational Trauma
Developmental and relational trauma revolves around our personal lives and our ways of relating to society. For instance, chronic adversity, abuse, neglect, or a lack of safety can be extremely traumatic, and these situations can certainly impact our lives greatly.
Outside Experiences
These instances of trauma might seem more ordinary, but depending on the person, they can be extremely traumatic, and they’re certainly important scenarios and circumstances to be aware of. Chronic toxic stress, childhood medical procedures, and adverse community environments like poverty, homelessness, and crime can all impact our body’s response to trauma.
Trauma Isn’t An Event – It Is An Experience
The most important thing to remember about trauma is that it isn’t just an event – even if it might have been caused by an event. Trauma is a holistic, whole-body experience that happens inside of us and stays inside of us. What is experienced as trauma for one person may not be experienced as trauma for another person.
This is where resilience comes in, the ability to continue with your life without past experiences dictating your present and future health and happiness. Becoming more resilient is something everyone should strive towards.
To be continued with the final part 4 of the ANS series.
Anke
