It is a well-documented fact, traumatized people often struggle to cope with the roller-coaster of physiological states their body can thrust them into. Seemingly without warning, people who have experienced trauma can be triggered into prolonged states of hyperarousal or hypoarousal. Chronic emptiness, intense irritability, feeling numb, dissociation, derealization, panic and hypervigilance are all states traumatized individuals long to avoid.
Before addressing healthy coping strategies, it is important to identify coping patterns clients may currently use to cope with their disconnected parts of self. Exploring the strategies and patterns one uses, helps to elucidate the function of their behavior. For example, a person who uses stimulant drugs may be attempting to increase their arousal. Whereas a person who eats compulsively may be attempting to block or numb their arousal. Many traumatized individuals may use a combination of strategies.
This set of 5 handouts outlines:
- What is trauma?
- How does trauma impact the nervous system
- The window of tolerance
- Hyperarousal vs hypoarousal
- Common coping reactions to disconnected bodily states:
- Trauma arousal from fear and danger
- Trauma blocking or numbing
- Trauma Splitting
- Trauma abstinence/deprivation
- Trauma Shame
- Trauma Repetition
- Client worksheet/ strategy plan
Help your clients identify behaviors they may be using to manage their distress. Increasing consciousness and broadening understanding helps clients to move closer to a state of willingness and behavior change. Once informed, clients can evaluate their behaviors within the context of coping with trauma and uncomfortable physiological states. Plans can then be devised to move towards positive change.
Great to use within session or sent home to consolidate therapy teachings.