Do you struggle to overcome past traumatic experiences?

‘We can look at trauma as a continuum that commands out attention only when it threatens to disrupt the continuity of self-experience (Bromberg, 2011)’. 

The experience of trauma can occur when faced with natural violence (death, tsunami), direct violence (war, human trafficking), cultural violence (racism) and structural violence (poverty, hunger). It can also happen when faced with emotional and/or physical abuse in relationships.

As part of their evolutionary journey, humans have adjusted to trauma using the flight fight freeze stress response. Whilst this is a natural and healthy defensive mechanism, it is maladaptive and dysfunctional in the aftermath of the threat. 

Diagnosis of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and C-PTSD (Complex - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) are established when a person is no longer exposed to a threat but behaves as if they are still under attack. People affected are brought back to their initial trauma with panic attacks, flashes or nightmares which they are not able to process.

Therapy will help you process safely difficult emotions and slowly correct and adjust your stress responses.