HEALING FROM WITHIN: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TRAUMA RECOVERY AND PTSD
The world has been waking up to the impact that traumatic experiences have on both the individual and the collective. As we learn to accept the impact of trauma, we also learn our individual ability to heal. As each individual heals, we create a better world. Is that too lofty of an ideal? Let me explain by sharing what trauma and PTSD are.
Let’s first start by establishing that trauma is part of life. We live on a planet and in a world that is outside of our individual influence; things happen that are out of our control. Trauma isnt’ simply a particular event, it’s how an individual copes, recovers and integrates the event. Humans are incredibly resilient and naturally recover from horrific situations. If the natural process of integration and recovery doesn’t occur, then the natural process of resilience is stunted.
In general terms, trauma is an experience that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, leaving a lasting impact on their psychological, physical and emotional well-being. It disrupts the person's sense of safety, stability, and trust in the world. It can also impact a person’s sense of self and trust in their decision own making. A traumatic event can be broadly categorized into two types: Capital T trauma and small t trauma.
Capital T trauma refers to significant, life-threatening events that are often sudden and shocking in nature. Examples include natural disasters, animal attacks, combat, physical or sexual assault, or witnessing a violent crime. Capital T trauma typically involves a single, identifiable incident that can have a profound and immediate impact on a person's life. If the person is unable to have the natural recovery and integration process, then the effects of such trauma can be long-lasting. Sometimes the effect is immediate and yet sometimes it is years later that the impact of a past trauma rears its ugly head.
On the other hand, small t trauma refers to more chronic or cumulative experiences that has a significant impact on an individual's well-being and development. These experiences can include emotional abuse, childhood neglect, chronic stress, bullying, exposure to domestic violence or other ongoing interpersonal conflicts. Small t traumas often occur over a prolonged period and may go unnoticed or minimized, yet they can have a cumulative effect on a person's mental and emotional health as well as preventing certain developmental milestones from being met. This can contribute to difficulties in self-esteem, relationships, and overall functioning in adulthood.
It's important to recognize that the impact of trauma, whether capital T or small t, is deeply personal and can vary from person to person. Each individual's experience and response to trauma are unique, therapy is focused on facilitating the journey towards recovery and resilience.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex and debilitating condition that can have a profound impact on an individual's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Traditionally, PTSD has been treated with a narrow focus on symptom management and medication. However, as a holistic therapist, I firmly believe in addressing the root causes of trauma and promoting healing from within.
Understanding PTSD: PTSD can occur due to a Capital T or small t event. It manifests as a range of symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, hyperarousal, and avoidance behaviors. While these symptoms are the mind's way of coping with trauma, if they persist for more than 6 months after an event and they interfering with daily life and overall well-being then the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis is met.
Holistic psychotherapy recognizes that individuals are not merely a sum of their experiences but are interconnected beings with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Treating PTSD holistically involves addressing each of these aspects to foster deep healing and recovery.
1. Mind: Cognitive Restructuring and Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a commonly used approach for treating PTSD. By challenging negative thought patterns and reframing traumatic experiences, individuals can regain a sense of control over their lives. In addition, other modalities like exposure therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are evidence based treatments very effective at reshaping the thought about a past experince. Other therapist like Psychedelic Integration Therapy, Psycholytic Psychotherapy (low dose of psychedelic) and mindfulness-based therapies can help individuals process and integrate traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and help to restructure the framework of beliefs about the self and the world that had been negatively impacted by the traumatic event.
2. Body: Somatic Experiencing and Physical Well-being: Trauma is often stored in the body, leading to physical tension, chronic pain, and a dysregulated nervous system. Somatic Experiencing, a body-centered therapy, focuses on releasing stored trauma through gentle movements, breathwork, and body awareness. This practice involves learning new ways of being in the body and developing an inner awareness and regulation, to allow a person to feel safe their body again. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, and restful sleep are also vital for supporting the body's healing process.
3. Emotions: Emotional Processing: Art therapy, music therapy, and other expressive arts modalities can provide a safe outlet for exploring and expressing complex emotions associated with trauma. Emotional processing techniques such as journaling, deep breathing exercises, and meditation can also help individuals process emotions, leading to emotional balance and resilience.
4. Spirit: Mindfulness and Meaning-Making: The spiritual dimension plays a crucial role in healing from trauma. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and yoga, can help cultivate present-moment awareness, reduce anxiety, and connect with the inner self. Exploring personal values, finding meaning, exploring and confronting guilt, remorse, self blame, moral injury and other spiritual pain can be part of the healing. Trauma can be developed from one’s lineage as we now understand that trauma in one’s lineage has is passed on through epigenetic. Trauma work may involve reviewing the trauma in one’s lineage to find the source. Integrating the experience and making sense of it, re-orienting to the self and the world and fostering a sense of purpose are essential for rebuilding a sense of identity, releasing the past and ushering in post-traumatic growth.
Holistic therapy offers a comprehensive approach to treating PTSD and trauma by recognizing the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit in healing. By addressing the root causes of trauma and promoting self-care practices that encompass all aspects of well-being, you can embark on a transformative healing journey. Remember, healing takes time and patience, but with a holistic approach, it is possible to reclaim one's life and move towards a future of greater resilience, joy, and self-empowerment.