Have you ever heard the phrase, “that was so traumatic”? This term, trauma, implies the mind/body’s response to something that is deeply distressing or disturbing, and hinders our ability to cope or function. What someone defines as traumatic can vary depending on their experience. Trauma can include being involved in an accident, having an illness/injury, losing a loved one, separation from a relationship, natural disasters, hate crimes, witnessing violence, rape, abuse, and many others. 

These things are deeply disturbing to our nervous system because it creates a perceived threat. Our nervous system is designed to protect us, so it sends signals to our body and then our mind to respond in ways that it thinks will keep us safe. This could mean creating safety from future exposure to that threat, future harm to our body/emotions, future disappointment, etc. 

Alive to Thrive Wellness takes a trauma-informed approach with all clients, and especially those who have experienced trauma. Working on your trauma will involve first getting in touch with your body’s responses to perceived threats. We want to work on overriding those signals that our nervous system has used to try to protect us, and telling our body that we are safe and in control. Once we create physical safety, then we start to work on the mind stuff. This will involve looking at your attachment style, patterns in relationships, beliefs we hold, patterns of thinking, etc. 

We will gently move through this process based on what you are in need of at the moment- we don’t rush it; we go at your pace. As we continue working through your trauma and rewiring your brain & responses, you will notice difficulty moving past your trauma will become less and less. The goal is not to get rid of it and push it away, but rather to integrate it as part of your experience, work with the parts that cause discomfort, and then work towards the life you deserve to live.