How do we know if we have trauma ?

Nature_Lover_Nature_Lover_
in General

I am such a lover of this podcast but today’s topic and conversation hits on so many different and interesting topics I often hear come up within my wellness and cuddling circles. One of the opening thoughts is, ‘How do we know if we have trauma?’

If you’re interested please have a listen, if you have listened please feel free to share your thoughts.

«13

Comments

  • [Deleted User]GoodRightHook (deleted user)

    Well, if you are alive you have some sort of trauma.

    Trauma itself is completely normal.

    That said, the level, the expression, the impact, and the releasing ("coping") mechanisms of dealing with that trauma vary wildly from human to human.|

    But we are all made of meat in a world made of fire and teeth...

  • cuddles_ndreamcuddles_ndream

    @GoodRightHook 💯

  • pmvinespmvines

    Just like our bodies experience trauma, whether due to over use , old age , illness , or just simple every day use , we also experience trauma to our minds that can either be due ongoing, seemingly benign experiences, or by something specific and circumstantial. If you were to break a leg , you would think nothing of having it treated. We dont do that so much though when it comes to that space between our ears.

  • RadiantHugsRadiantHugs Mod

    Thank you for sharing - I'm Listening to the podcast now!

  • MCcuddles2MCcuddles2
    edited June 2022

    I imagine for some of us, we are keenly aware and reminded of our trauma during every waking moment.

    In that context, the question seems almost silly. But that's within a very specific context.

  • achetocuddleachetocuddle

    @GoodRightHook You word things so well and I agree.

  • SunsetSnugglesSunsetSnuggles

    @MCcuddles2 I know, my reaction to the question was, "Uh, PTSD?" 🥴

    But in all seriousness, thank you for the video, I will resume watching it.

    ~ Sunset Snuggles

  • Nature_Lover_Nature_Lover_

    Loving everyone’s perspectives and just wanted to clarify that the subject of the thread was only meant to grab attention.

    I was so intrigued with the multitude of topics discussed in detail including but not limited to therapeutic modalities, repetition compulsion, treatments and ways to address trauma such as mdma, psilocybin, and lsd.

  • GreatHornedOwlGreatHornedOwl

    We all experience trauma. We don't all experience post traumatic stress.

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited June 2022

    I've learned in my life that it's ok to visit the dark places in my mind. It doesn't mean I have to live there . Trauma can very much be like quicksand , and for some , it is really hard to get unstuck. I realize its not as easy for some , and hope that who ever is stuck is able to find a way out .

  • LondonHugLondonHug

    @Nature_Lover_ fantastic to see the Huberman vlog linked here. Every episode is so densely packed. One Monday I will make it to the end of the weekly marathon

    Not had a chance to listen to this session yet but have watched a couple of documentaries on emerging research on the therapeutic potential of the ‘party’ drugs. You might enjoy this documentary on Psilocybin research in a therapeutic setting

  • [Deleted User]Btown (deleted user)

    @pmvines Agreed.

  • BrianLBrianL

    @GoodRightHook I work, currently, in a world of metal and fire (well, heat, but same diff when I get steam burns). Cuts and burns basically every day. Working in a dish pit, I wish I was made of something more durable than meat.

  • MissAdventurousMissAdventurous

    I listen to this podcast too 😂

  • [Deleted User]GoodRightHook (deleted user)

    @BrianL

    I cannot remember where I picked that phrase/concept up, but it has never left me...

  • BrianLBrianL

    @GoodRightHook Right now I've got 3 cuts from yesterday (two from a broken glass, one from broken plateware) the third is on the inside of my little finger, so basically everything hurts it.

  • achetocuddleachetocuddle

    @BrianL I never thought about how much working in a dish pit could cut a person up. I learned something today. I hope your cuts don't stay sore too long.

  • BrianLBrianL

    @achetocuddle Yeah. Plus lifting heavy buss tubs leaves me sore/aching. That won't go away until I get a different job. Also, I could also get cut by knives, both steak and regular, it's happened before. Also have had things smash my fingers, and drink racks drop on my head.

  • achetocuddleachetocuddle

    @BrianL Good grief. I knew restaurant dishwashing would be hot work, but I never knew all this. I don't even like washing dishes at home for one.

  • BrianLBrianL

    @achetocuddle Yeah. It's also hot work, on top of all of that. And where I work, we don't have the best workers, so... yeah. It makes the work environment that much worse. I really only took the job because I needed to work to pay bills, but I'm at the point where I need something better.

  • [Deleted User]Saysoh (deleted user)
    edited June 2022

    I was listening to Lex Fridman's pod and he had a neurosicentist on (I forget his name) and he had this theory about trauma vs memories. With memories, each time we retrieve them, we put them back in different parts of our brain causing them to change each time we download and upload them. We don't do that with trauma. A traumatic memory never changes because we don't really download it, but live it again. I know I'm chopping his theory up because it was a minute ago, but when I think about my car wreck, I can still smell it, time slowed down, I remember what I was thinking while it was happening, the cop telling me I should have died. Traumatic memories are just different from memories of vacations on a beach. They just feel solid and not going anywhere.

    I'll listen tomorrow while working.

  • SunsetSnugglesSunsetSnuggles

    @Saysoh Very fascinating. I guess this is the point of EMDR, to help people process and move through trauma that keeps coming up and hitting the same every time. Lots to think about.

    ~ Sunset Snuggles

  • [Deleted User]Saysoh (deleted user)

    @SunsetSnuggles My PTSD was minor in comparion to most in regards to the wreck. Losing my Mom was way more traumatic because it wasn't just me that was affected, but my entire family and it's pretty big. I went through two therapists and there was some EMDR exercises, but the best therapy for me was just writing, to be honest. Making the internal external and just facing it like fighting at the tennis courts in eigth grade. This helped with the anxiety as well because it allowed me to step back and see what the fear was and work through it. Mushrooms helped for sure, but for me, seeing my own feelings in my own letters was an extraordinary relief because it not longer existed just inside of me.

  • DaringSprinterDaringSprinter

    @Saysoh

    You might find this 2010 article by a professor in the departments of neuroscience, psychiatry, and structural and chemical biology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York interesting.

    Long-term Memories: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly ( ↑ this article title is a link, you can click it)

  • cuddler5617cuddler5617

    I plan on watching the pod cast. In my opinion we know if we have had some kind of trauma based on how we react to a situation rather we know we are reacting a certain way or not.

    To judge the severity of the trauma is determined by if it changes us as a person or not. It can be as minor as avoiding a road that you may have had a car accident on to as sever as wanting to be alone or depressed for long periods of time. The problem that we face in todays world is that we seldom slow down and realize that we have changed.

    Myself personally have had two this past year. Due to the actions of my mother and other family members my youngest son came close to losing his life. While I still love my family, it has caused me to be less trusting with who watches my kids. The second is a very long scary story which I won’t share here because it would take for ever to type out but let’s just say it was of super natural circumstances.

    Both events have changed me permanently. Not really for the worse but since I have changed permanently I would say it was traumatizing. I think the key to solid mental health is slowing down, stepping back if needed, and coping with things like this versus brushing it off so quickly.

  • pmvinespmvines

    Trauma can actually stunt ones emotional development. Sometimes it will leave the person at the same emotional age as when it happened. So you might be 35, but say you experienced severe trauma st age 11 and were never really able to get past and cope with it in a healthy manner, you will in some ways still be at the emotional level of an 11 year old .

  • cuddler5617cuddler5617

    @pmvines very true. Well said. I personally know a few like that and it breaks my heart.

  • SCityCuddlerSCityCuddler
    edited June 2022

    @pmvines I agree with you 100%. That's why it makes so much sense that @cuddler5617 is the way he is, stunted emotionally. 🤣

  • cuddler5617cuddler5617

    @SCityCuddler hardy har har lol.

  • SunsetSnugglesSunsetSnuggles

    @pmvines Truer words were never spoken.

    ~ Sunset Snuggles

Sign In or Register to comment.