Comments on: Trauma is the gift that keeps on giving

By: remedies stress

remedies stress — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:50:07 +0000

Im 30, I remember things from when I was three, Ive been abused practically my whole life in every way and its made me who I am. The past is the present with fresh eyes. Look at things differently, you cant control whats already happened you can control what happens next.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:06:53 +0000

Yes and no. Good that the obsessions and anxiety have diminished, and that you are now on more solid ground. But my experience suggests that addictive behavior most often is perpetuated by unresolved, underlying trauma in all his forms. And…what is so apparent in relationships is that trauma bonds to trauma. So a person with addiction (who has a trauma history) will hook up with a partner who may not have an addiction, but usually has some trauma history as well. The result is that the root of relationship conflict very often is found in early trauma, not in resolving addiction. Don’t get me wrong, dealing with the addiction is very important, it is just not sufficient for long-term successful outcomes. The critical piece of work is the developmental catch-up which I have blogged about. And my experience, this work both partners need to do. Hope this makes sense.

but my experience is that couples struggle over time as a result of very subtle ways that we block the others

By: C. Christine @ battleofjoan

C. Christine @ battleofjoan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:17:21 +0000

I read your comment at wifeofsexaddict.blogspot.com, and sailed over here. I appreciate your active dedic. to the topic. I still feel trauma from the hurt of my hub’s acting out. But to a much less degree. Whereas before, I was OBSESSED with anything he did by himself, I now have a level of sanity about it. I have more of a trust, based on his openness about everything he does, our strengthened communication, and his diminished anger. I also have a particular amount of detachment from him. Is that what you would call, “resolved trauma?”

By: Nikki

Nikki — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:49:13 +0000

The relationship between addiction and trauma can be a messy one. I have had some experiance with a family member who has been struggling with addictions for years and then his mother died in the midst of everything else. For a while this ‘trauma’ fueled him to get help and seek a better path in life but recently he has gone back to his old coping methods. I read the 5 hings to know about addiction as well and the one about healthy relationships hit home. A lot of people in our family are giving up on him and I am struggling with that decision because I understand he needs healthy relationships to get better but at this point I’m not postitive he even wants to get better.

By: sarahk

sarahk — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:44:59 +0000

Therapeutic treatment must address issues of trauma in regards to addiction. What really hit home for me was what you said about trauma needing resolve. I have talked with people who experienced a trauma years ago, have used substance to avoid the issue for over 20 years, and by some trigger will explode at the thought around the trauma. This is evidence that trauma does not simply go away, or heal itself over time. Trauma needs resolve. It is piling up in our minds and our bodies, waiting to be addressed, and until it is, it isn’t going anywhere. This is one of the most powerful realities of being a clinician and working with people on a personal level. The importance of addressing this trauma cannot be overstated. Healing comes through working on the trauma, and when triggers come up, finding new ways of coping with these issues. Without therapeutic work around the issues, they will remain, ready to ignite at any time by sudden triggers, and it can be dangerous for many people.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:17:37 +0000

Trauma is one of those things that people don’t like to talk about, but virtually all people will experience some form of trauma throughout their life, with an extremely large portion of people experiencing severe trauma. As clinicians (or clinicians to be) we need to be aware of this, as it will be an underlying factor in a vast majority of clients we will see. In terms of addictions, I would say that traumatic experiences are hidden in the dark pasts of almost all addicts. It is through their addiction that someone can numb their pain and repress their past. I feel that addiction treatment would be essentially ineffective without dealing with the underlying trauma. As somone previously pointed out, many counseling programs do not have a class requirement for how to deal with trauma. This surprises me, as dealing with trauma and it’s related issues will be at the core of what we will do. This is an example of a way that the system needs to change so that we can be better equipped as counselors and therapists to truly help our clients.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:09:30 +0000

What I find so astounding is the overwhelming prevalence of trauma. I recently read that almost 1 in 3 girls before the age of 18 have been sexually abused. How can this be? I can attest that trauma changes us, in that we are one person before the trauma and another thereafter. I say this, as I was mugged several years ago, and have a completely heightened sense of danger than I did before the mugging. Still, years later, I get intense moments of fear when I feel even slightly threatened or vulnerable. I cannot; however, possibly fathom the emotional expense of a severe trauma. With that said, I wanted to bring up an amazing documentary a friend recently suggested called, “War Dance,” an unbelievable story of the children of war in Northern Uganda. These kids have experienced unfathomable traumas, witnessing death and torture to their parents, siblings, and friends. Many children are abducted by the rebels and forced to become murderers, some as young as five years old. Now today, many children are still living packed in overpopulated camps with highly unsuitable living conditions. What is so gorgeous about this heartbreaking story is the blatant demonstration of genuine resilience. These kids get the opportunity to compete in a prestigious national music and dance competition. In the light of our Me to We reading, this story is a beautiful example of the power of community, encouragement, support, and creativity. “War Dance” is enormously insightful, especially to aspiring counselors, or any of us in the helping professions, as it shows we can find meaning, hope, and strength in numbers and through creativity. “War Dance” proves we as human beings are enormously resilient creatures, even under the bleakest circumstances and are capable of overcoming and doing almost anything.
The high co-occurrences of trauma and addiction make me think about how we can identify the presence of resiliency, measure, and strengthen its amazing efficacy. Resilience can improve over time and be modifiable throughout the course of treatment. Happiness and positive emotions have been proven to increase our coping ability to stress, and therefore, proactively cultivating daily upbeat, optimistic, and constructive emotions can be an excellent medicine for trauma and addiction. Especially in terms of addiction, it may take awhile to “wake up” and reconnect to feeling our emotions, but the power of frequent positive energy is astounding. There is some evidence the some antidepressants, such as, Fluoxetine, may contribute to increased resiliency, and may be a useful tool in certain cases. Also, focusing on the now, finding joy in the present through mindfulness, and meditation exercises may also be affective.

Here is are some links for the trailer/information for, “War Dance,” I urge all to rent it, as it will give you energy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2saj4gJ4Lvw

http://www.wardancethemovie.com

By: Nicolea

Nicolea — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:24:10 +0000

The more and more I learn about the human experience as it relates to the counseling profession, the more I realize how much trauma underlies every disorder. Whether you are returning home from the war or you are a gang member on the streets of Chicago or have lived in the foster care system or had parents who have divorced, trauma is apart of your life story. I’m always amazed to hear the “oh and by the way trauma plays a big part in xyz disorder”. At this point in time should not we as counselors know that their are two guarantees when working with clients. 1. They have experienced some kind of trauma in their lives and that is why they seek help 2. the relationship with the therapist is an important factor for therapeutic success.

The following are stats from the National Trauma Consortium
In mental health and substance abuse service settings
• As many as 80% of men and women in psychiatric hospitals have experienced physical or sexual abuse, most of them as children.
• The majority of adults diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (81%)or Dissociative Identity Disorder (90%) were abused as children.
• Up to two-thirds of both men and women in substance abuse treatment report childhood abuse or neglect.
• Nearly 90% of alcoholic women were sexually abused as children or suffered severe violence at the hands of a parent.
In childhood and adolescence
• 82% of young people in inpatient and residential treatment programs have histories of trauma.
• Violence is a significant causal factor in 10-25% of all developmental disabilities.
In the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems
• 80% of women in prison and jail have been victims of sexual and physical abuse.
• In one study, 92% of incarcerated girls reported sexual, physical or severe emotional abuse.
• Boys who experience or witness violence are 1,000 times more likely to commit violence than those who do not.

At the moment classes about how to treat trauma are not a basic requirement for counseling programs. I hope in the years to come and the large amount of research around the subject will help to change how practitioners work in the future.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:37:45 +0000

Cynthia – sorry to hear about your surgerical outcome. Sounds like you would benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, where various types of providers collaboratively work together to ease your pain and find long-term solutions.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:38:19 +0000

Your statement is the raw truth. Trauma or chronic pain is something that keeps giving over and over. I myself cannot call it a gift but I understand the euphemism. For me the trauma has given its gift for more than 7 years now.

I am not “addicted” to anything except maybe the pain itself. There have been a few times when for no reason the pain was not there, and I thought there was something wrong. I don’t think I know how to be me anymore, without pain. The doctors have tried to help but they actually keep re-traumatizing my leg with each surgery. Every time they cut it open, it is a new trauma for my body to process. The last surgery has been the worst in terms of pain. The surgery itself may have been a success, depending on what how you term success. The pain is worse than it ever was and never goes away now. For me it wasn’t a success but for the doctor I’m sure it is because he accomplished what he had planned. He didn’t anticipate the pain that went with it.

I try to remember every day is a gift, whether it includes pain, it beats the alternative. I think……