Trauma - why every injury counts

The term trauma is defined quite differently in the various medical and therapeutic disciplines. In medicine for example, the term trauma is used to describe a physical wound caused by an accident or the impact of violence. This usage has been documented since the 19th century.

The kind of wounding at issue in this article, however, is not so much a physical as a psychological one. That it is a kind of psychological wound, however, is agreed upon by psychologists, psychiatrists, as well as therapists and healers. Opinions differ, on the one hand, about the depth of the wound necessary for it to be considered a trauma and, on the other hand, about the cause and the corresponding treatment options.

Trauma. The definitions.

In psychotherapy, trauma has the following sequence and is treated by means of talk therapy and, if necessary, medication:

• Serious experiences such as natural disasters or experiences of violence of any kind are very stressful for almost everyone and can lead to extreme physical and psychological stress, helplessness and horror. This stress is almost impossible to process without help. This is the actual trauma.
• Immediately after the trauma, it is normal to experience symptoms such as numbness, severe fluctuations in emotions, and intense physical stress. In professional circles, this is referred to as an acute stress reaction. Fortunately, these acute symptoms usually subside on their own after a short time.
• However, some symptoms often last longer. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop from this, or triggers that repeatedly occur in everyday life. This leads to intense, imposing memories of the trauma, through nightmares, emotional numbing and often results in avoidance behavior.

In this definition, the "severity" of the event is decisive. It is probably the reason why a 45 year old man feels bad when he feels totally stressed by the supposed "little things" like a move because he was just forced to leave his beloved place of residence at the age of 12.

Psychology provides another definition. According to Wikipedia, trauma (plural traumata) is there "as a psychological, psychological or mental trauma is called in psychology a mental injury. The word trauma comes from Greek and means injury in general, without making a determination as to what caused it."

In the integrative forms of therapy (EMDR, iEMDR, coaching, NLP, Wingwave), on the other hand, it is primarily the origin of a trauma that is scrutinized. The assumption there is that everything a person experiences is perceived through the 5 senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch). In "normal" non-stressful experiences, these sensory impressions are processed and stored in the brain. A traumatic experience, however, is not so easy for the brain and subsequently for the autonomic nervous system to process. The experience is then only partially processed and this "error" in data processing makes itself felt again and again afterwards. The problem is, according to our previous example, that the 45 year old man, who should move, is then 12 years old again. He experiences again the same feelings and has again the already experienced stress of that time. He then, despite his adult age, behaves like a 12 year old again.

So the question about the concept of trauma in the integrative therapeutic approach is not only about the severity of the experience in general, but mainly about the possibility of the autonomic nervous system and the brain to process this traumatic experience. In integrative therapy methods, there are different techniques and ways to address this "error" in data storage.

From a spiritual perspective, there is another level considered in trauma. The great spiritual teachers assume that we as a soul come to this planet more than once into a body, i.e. incarnate. Through these different incarnations we have accumulated so-called karma (quasi open accounts), which shows itself in this life. So every trauma experienced in this life has to do with yourself in a certain way. It is a mirror of your deeds, so to speak. This karma can be dissolved by means of various techniques. The overall goal of these spiritual teachings is to live, instead of karma, what is called dharma, which is your highest purpose in life. Those who dissolve karma and the traumas associated with it will have a lot of energy and capacity to find their true purpose and meaning afterwards.

Can trauma be healed?

Trauma, whether very severe such as childhood sexual abuse, or somewhat lighter such as parents moving away in adolescence, losing a job in one's mid-twenties, or a failed marriage in one's mid-forties, can lead to a form of stress disorder. When this disorder affects or even limits the person's daily life, it is time to process what they have experienced with a specialist.

In order to safely guide people with severe trauma through the healing process, a well-trained and experienced therapist should be consulted. The depths of trauma can be very dark. Therefore, the so-called resource building at the beginning of the therapy is very important. Resources are sources of strength and energy that give the affected person the security they need to master situations. This is so essential for therapy because otherwise there is a danger of retraumatization.

I have already treated many clients with very severe traumas and can say one thing across the board: working through the most difficult moments in life in such a way that they no longer disturb you in the present allows you to live an inner freedom and lightness that would not even have been imaginable before the therapy. As a result, the life within you can unfold in a way that is beyond your wildest dreams.

It is not relevant whether the traumas are severe or not so much. It is simply a matter of acknowledging that the I from the past, was overwhelmed with the experience and therefore this experience could not be processed properly. Through this recognition a kind of affection for the self can arise, which in consequence leads to self-respect and self-love.

The experiences of the past cannot be erased. But they can be processed in such a way that they no longer disturb you in your everyday life. This is what gives you the real freedom to do what you want.