Trauma Basics Part Four
Our bodies speak to us. This is the last of a four part series on trauma. Read about memory trauma and the different signs your body may be showing.
5 Signs You May Be Affected by Trauma Memory
Jaime was feeling just fine when she turned in for the night. It was a typical evening, and after tucking in her kids, she was looking forward to getting some good sleep. Fortunately, the sleep was really good…until it wasn’t. All of a sudden, Jaime bolted up in bed and noticed that she had not only awakened suddenly, but her heart was racing, and so was her mind.
Waking her husband, Jaime said, “I think I’m having a heart attack.” At only 30 years old, her husband assured her that it wasn’t very likely. However, Jaime insisted that something was wrong. She jumped out of bed and called the emergency number to get an ambulance to come to her home. Because, in her mind, since she didn’t want to die and leave two young kids without a mother, she had no time to waste; she needed help as soon as possible.
Once the ambulance arrived and she was examined, the paramedics gave her the news…she was just fine. Her heart was normal, and she was NOT having a heart attack. Confused, Jaime wasn’t sure she could trust them. They told her there was nothing physically wrong, but that she was probably “just” panicking.
Just panicking.
There was no “just” to the feelings of dread that Jaime was experiencing. It was sheer terror in her system.
For Jaime and many like her, her body didn’t know that she was actually safe in the present moment. It sent her false alarms.
Since our brains and bodies are wired through our nervous system for survival, anything that even hints at being a potential threat is enough to get our blood pumping and our system preparing to fight or take flight. However, many times, the input is simply misinterpreted, and there is no threat. The threat(s) to survival may have happened a long time ago, but the system responded as if the danger is a threat today.
Anxiety and Panic Attacks are just one way our systems alert us to unresolved trauma in our nervous systems. The following are some other ways to tell:
An Exaggerated Startle Response We all get startled by something unexpected, but when the level of the startle response is more than the situation warrants, it can be a sign that our nervous systems are overly stressed and perpetually primed to protect us and overprotect us if necessary at the slightest inkling of perceived danger.
You find yourself withdrawing from others, feeling disconnected, numb, or in denial or disbelief
Difficulty Concentrating/Feeling that you, others, or your circumstances are not real, as if you are living in a dream. This is called dissociation, and it is a protective mechanism where your mind closes out awareness and connection and focuses inward on protecting the self. This is a survival and protective mechanism, but it can get in the way of enjoying life and really experiencing it in the here-and-now.
Your Moods Fluctuate Greatly- You may be doing just fine one moment and the next be triggered by something that really sets your emotions off to a heightened intensity. Being okay in one moment, might give way at the simplest of things to rage, sobbing, or irritability.
You have Nightmares- Sometimes, we can keep our pain at bay when we are awake during the day, but trauma can show up in your sleep patterns and your dreams. If you are having repetitive nightmares, or you find yourself waking in the middle of the night for no apparent reason, have difficulty getting back to sleep, etc…. It could be trauma trying to alert you to take action or be prepared for something that has already happened or something that isn’t currently happening but feels like it’s pressing in on you.
These symptoms are not a sign of weakness but a sign that you likely have been strong for too long. If you need help with any of these issues or the underlying traumas that could use attention and treatment, connect with us, we’d love to help: 541-275-0412