What Is Trauma?
Psychological trauma is more than major catastrophic events that have happened to a person. Often when we meet with clients with the goal to help heal the memories of various life events, we hear statements such as "I know I don't experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and I shouldn't be feeling this way." This statement is a harsh judgement that actually keeps the body and mind captured in the pain of what has happened. While there are major events that happen to people that will qualify for a clinical diagnosis of PTSD, there are also the events in someone's life that may not qualify for a clinical diagnosis but which are just as impactful to the clients we meet. No matter what type of trauma someone experiences, care is needed to not trap emotions in the body.
Distinguishing Between Trauma
"Uppercase T" Trauma
These are the events that most people would understand as traumatic, such as car accidents, assault, and other events that required emergency services (or would/should have required emergency services, if someone was able to access care). These are often events that society will emotionally cater to the person that experienced the event.
"Lowercase t" trauma
These are the events that tend to be overlooked. Oftentimes these events may be events which loved ones are telling someone "that was forever ago, get over it" or may even be events that are lost in the memory network, which seemed meaningless at the time but still affect us. An example may be an impactful caregiver telling a child that they are worthless, or otherwise invalidating the child's actions or beliefs, and so the child grew into an anxious and codependent personality later in life, struggling with the anxiety to be good enough. Another example may be the anxiety that is felt having to transition into young adulthood, where poor decisions are made. The young adult then develops into an adult who lives in a way they feel traps the shame in their body by working too hard to prove they are not the person they were in the past.
These are the events that most people would understand as traumatic, such as car accidents, assault, and other events that required emergency services (or would/should have required emergency services, if someone was able to access care). These are often events that society will emotionally cater to the person that experienced the event.
"Lowercase t" trauma
These are the events that tend to be overlooked. Oftentimes these events may be events which loved ones are telling someone "that was forever ago, get over it" or may even be events that are lost in the memory network, which seemed meaningless at the time but still affect us. An example may be an impactful caregiver telling a child that they are worthless, or otherwise invalidating the child's actions or beliefs, and so the child grew into an anxious and codependent personality later in life, struggling with the anxiety to be good enough. Another example may be the anxiety that is felt having to transition into young adulthood, where poor decisions are made. The young adult then develops into an adult who lives in a way they feel traps the shame in their body by working too hard to prove they are not the person they were in the past.
What We Know and How We Can Help You
at the Beacon of Enlightenment
When trauma is trapped inside the body, we find that people may not act in ways that are preferable to them, such as:
At the Beacon of Enlightenment, NFP, clinicians are trained with proven trauma interventions such as: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Trauma Yoga (with a certified yoga teacher), Art Therapy, Domestic Violence training, and training specific to drug and alcohol abuse.
The Beacon of Enlightenment is here for you, no matter where you are on your journey to healing. Your concerns are VALID and merit a guiding hand. Come to us with whatever questions and concerns you may have, we are here to light the way.
- Not knowing how to connect with others to grow meaningful relationships.
- Having to take medications (or other substances) just to get through the work day due to inorganic anxiety.
- Going to emergency rooms because of the fear of a cardiac event, just to find out there is no cardiac event diagnosis.
- Stomach issues, such as acid reflux problems.
- Body tension, such as back pain, jaw pain, and neck problems.
- Many other complex issues that, when not dealt with, the human body will find outlets for.
At the Beacon of Enlightenment, NFP, clinicians are trained with proven trauma interventions such as: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Trauma Yoga (with a certified yoga teacher), Art Therapy, Domestic Violence training, and training specific to drug and alcohol abuse.
The Beacon of Enlightenment is here for you, no matter where you are on your journey to healing. Your concerns are VALID and merit a guiding hand. Come to us with whatever questions and concerns you may have, we are here to light the way.