“Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory.”

This is a phrase that many trauma survivors and mental health professionals have come to recognize as a powerful truth. When someone experiences a distressing or shocking event, the aftermath often goes beyond the simple recollection.

In our last blog, we discussed how trauma often leaves lasting marks on a person's mind, body, and soul. These can manifest in various ways known as "trauma reactions”, which can significantly affect a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, distorting how they navigate life over time.

Types of Trauma Reactions

1. Trauma Reaction

Trauma reactions are physiological and psychological alarm responses triggered by a traumatic experience. These reactions often manifest as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional dysregulation.

We frequently observe these reactions in individuals who have experienced violent crimes, sexual abuse, or war. Even though they survived the trauma, many veterans, for example, re-experience the horrors of their wartime experiences through flashbacks, sometimes with a level of realism that mirrors the past event.

There are many cases of veterans who survived a bomb attack and became very sensitive to loud noises. Even mundane sounds like fireworks, thunder, or a car backfiring can make them feel terrified, confused, or have flashbacks. This phenomenon is often called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

2. Trauma Repetition

Trauma repetition refers to the tendency to repeatedly engage in behaviors or seek out situations that recreate the traumatic experience. This can manifest in various ways, such as developing OCD-like (obsessive-compulsive) behaviors and engaging in repetitive rituals or re-enactments.

For example, a person who was sexually abused as a child may find themselves in an abusive relationship as an adult, repeating the pattern established by their childhood trauma. Some may unknowingly seek out or tolerate these harmful relationships because it's all they know or believe they deserve.

3. Trauma Bonds

Trauma bonds are a type of unhealthy attachment that can form between a victim and their abuser. These can be particularly difficult to break because they are often rooted in deep emotional attachments and a sense of dependence. Victims may feel a strong need to please their abuser or believe that they cannot survive without them, despite the toxic cycle of abuse and manipulation.

For example, a married woman who suffers from domestic abuse may find it difficult to leave the marriage because they feel a deep sense of guilt and shame, believing that she is to blame for the abuse. Her partner may also have gaslighted her, making her doubt her capability to stand on her own.

4. Trauma Shame

Trauma shame is a feeling of guilt or embarrassment that can come after a traumatic experience. It can make someone feel like they're responsible for the trauma or that they should have been able to stop it.

For example, a lone survivor of a car accident might feel guilty for not being able to prevent the unfortunate event from happening even if the cause is out of their hands. This leads to a sense of self-blame and shame. He may also become afraid to talk about what happened because he worries about being judged or stigmatized.

Trauma shame can be very harmful to a person's mental health. It can lead to depression, anxiety, and hopelessness.

5. Trauma Pleasure

Trauma pleasure is when a person experiences a sense of pleasure or relief from the presence of danger, risk, or shame. It can be a complex and confusing reaction, as it seems paradoxical to find enjoyment in something potentially harmful. However, it can be a way to cope with the overwhelming emotions associated with trauma.

Trauma survivors may seek out high-risk activities as a way to manage their intense emotions and regain a sense of control over their lives, like skydiving, speed racing, and gambling. It provides them with a rush of adrenaline or a temporary escape from the traumatic memory.

6. Trauma Blocking

Trauma blocking is a way of coping with trauma by trying to avoid or numb feelings. This can involve behaviors like overeating, excessive sleeping, or substance abuse. 

Trauma survivors often engage in blocking behaviors as a way to protect themselves from the overwhelming emotions associated with their traumatic experiences. It's a coping mechanism that helps individuals avoid reliving painful memories or confronting difficult feelings. However, this can cause long-term negative consequences such as health issues or relationship problems.

7. Trauma Splitting

Trauma splitting is a way of coping with trauma by ignoring or compartmentalizing traumatic experiences. This can involve excessive daydreaming, compartmentalizing parts of oneself, engaging in fantasy-based activities, or living a double life.

There are many stories of children who experience abuse to dissociate from the traumatic events by creating a fantasy world or imagining themselves doing something enjoyable. This coping mechanism helps them create a false sense of safety and distance from the trauma.

8. Trauma Abstinence

Trauma abstinence is compulsively depriving yourself of things you need or deserve due to feelings of guilt or shame related to trauma. People with this kind of trauma reaction may believe that they don’t deserve positive experiences due to their traumatic past. It can be a form of self-punishment or a way to maintain a sense of control over their lives.

This can manifest in behaviors like avoiding sexual pleasure, hoarding money, performing in "underachieving" jobs, or engaging in disordered eating patterns like bulimia.

Pattern of Trauma

Trauma is stored in the body, mind, and soul—manifesting in various ways that affect a person’s feelings, behavior, and attitude. Aside from the common reactions to trauma, experiencing it can also develop a cycle that a person may unknowingly create with the people around them. This cycle, illustrated by the Karpman Triangle, involves three distinct roles: victim, rescuer, and victimized.

• Victim: A person experiences trauma at the hands of a victimizer.

• Rescuer: In response to the trauma, the person may take on the role of the rescuer, seeking to help themselves or others. While this may seem selfless, it can lead to unhealthy dependencies and resentments.

• Victimizer: The rescuer may become frustrated or overwhelmed, leading to adopting the role of the victimizer. They may project their pain onto others or engage in harmful behaviors.

To help understand this, let's consider the case of someone who experiences bullying at school. Initially, they may feel like a victim. In response, they might become a rescuer, trying to help others who are also being bullied or excelling in their studies to prove their worth. However, over time, they might become frustrated and resentful of the people around them, feeling undervalued. This can lead to becoming a victimizer, bullying others, or sabotaging their success.

While trauma can be a self-perpetuating cycle, it is possible to break free from it and its effect on our lives. Understanding the root cause of trauma, and seeking appropriate modalities to overcome it is crucial in the healing process.

If you have questions about trauma or our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Arbor Intensive is dedicated to helping individuals heal from the effects of trauma and reclaim their lives.