What Are The 6 Trauma Responses?

What Are the 6 Trauma Responses?

Trauma is a serious issue that can have a lasting effect on our lives. It can lead to physical, emotional, and mental health problems, as well as relationship difficulties. Understanding trauma responses, both in ourselves and others, is essential in order to help heal from trauma and rebuild our lives.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is an event that is outside the range of usual human experience and that causes intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Traumatic events can be either life-threatening or non-life-threatening, but they all have the potential to cause significant distress and disruption to our lives.

6 Types of Trauma Responses

In the aftermath of a traumatic event, our brains and bodies go into a state of hyperarousal and heightened sensitivity in order to help us cope with the threat. This state of hyperarousal can lead to a variety of different trauma responses, including:

1. Fight-or-flight response: This is the most common trauma response, and it involves preparing to either fight or flee from danger. In the fight-or-flight response, the body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which increase heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, and send blood flow to the muscles.

2. Freeze response: This response involves staying perfectly still and quiet in order to avoid being detected by a predator. In the freeze response, the body releases hormones like oxytocin and prolactin, which slow down heart rate and breathing, and decrease blood flow to the muscles.

3. Fawn response: This response involves submitting to the perpetrator of the trauma in order to avoid further harm. In the fawn response, the body releases hormones like serotonin and dopamine, which create a sense of pleasure and well-being, and make us more compliant with others.

4. Grief response: This response involves experiencing intense sadness, anger, and longing after a traumatic loss. In the grief response, the body releases hormones like oxytocin and prolactin, which promote bonding and social support.

5. Dissociation response: This response involves detaching from the present moment and experiencing a sense of unreality or depersonalization. In the dissociation response, the body releases hormones like norepinephrine and dopamine, which decrease activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for higher-order thinking and reasoning.

6. Somatization response: This response involves experiencing physical symptoms without a medical cause. In the somatization response, the body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause a variety of physical symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, and digestive problems.

How to Cope with Trauma Responses

Coping with trauma responses can be challenging, but it is possible. The following tips can help:

• Talk about your experience. Talking about your trauma can help you to process it and make sense of it. It can also help you to connect with others who have been through similar experiences.
• Learn about trauma. The more you know about trauma, the better you will be able to understand your own responses and cope with them.
• Develop coping mechanisms. Develop healthy ways to cope with your trauma responses, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, or spending time in nature.
• Seek professional help. If you are struggling to cope with your trauma responses, seek professional help from a therapist or counselor.

Conclusion

Trauma is a serious issue, but it is possible to heal from trauma and rebuild your life. Understanding trauma responses and developing coping mechanisms is essential for healing. Remember, you are not alone and there is hope for recovery.