The trauma responses are neurophysiological; they are not bad or good. They happen without us choosing what to do. These responses help us survive. Healthy activation of these stress response systems is predictable, moderate and controllable. (Gobbel, 2023). When it's not it dysregulates us and can cause trauma
Panic attacks are episodes of severe overwhelming fear. Symptoms develop fast and reach their peak within 10 minutes. They rarely last more than an hour, typically lasting for 20 to 30 minutes.
An emotional flashback is when we are triggered into living in the emotional/psychological state we experienced during our traumatic childhood experiences.
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, cognitively and emotionally disruptive thoughts. These thoughts are characteristic of anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive class disorders. They are also found in mood, eating, trauma & addiction disorders. Intrusive thoughts are usually thoughts about actions, scenarios or fears the person finds upsetting and often taboo in their culture. Common topics include inappropriate … Continue reading Symptom Explainer: Intrusive Thoughts
Table of Contents What Are Obsessive ThoughtsSkills in The MomentBreak The SpiralTrauma SkillsKatniss SkillAffirmationsSomatic Skills2 to 1 BreathingSensory Integration ToolsProgressive Muscle Relaxation Radical Acceptance Long Term Skills What are obsessive thoughts? Obsessive thinking is an inability to control and cope with recurring, distressing thoughts, and images. The process may be mildly distracting or absorbing. Obsessive … Continue reading Coping Skills: Obsessive Thoughts
Hyper and hypoarousal are the two dysregulated states of the autonomic nervous system. These states are connected to the Fight-Flight-Freeze-Fawn/Fold response. "Fight & Flight" are states of hyperarousal, "Freeze" is a split response and "Fawn/Fold" is a state of hypoarousal. Arousal refers to the level of stress and type of activity our central nervous system … Continue reading Informational Article: Hyperarousal & Hypoarousal
Defining Dissociation General Dissociation: Dissociation refers to the natural mechanism our brain has to disconnect us from our surroundings and ourselves. This is sometimes as a benign reaction but severe dissociation is associated with trauma and other mental illnesses. Every Person has the capacity for dissociation and many experiences some degree of the skill like … Continue reading Symptom Explainer: Dissociation
Survivors of abuse and IPV may miss it after it ends or crave acts of sexual violence. Those of us who may miss aspects of our abuse often feel like we wanted the abuse, deserved it or will only ever be abused. But we never deserved to be abused, we never wanted it, there are … Continue reading Informational Article: Why Survivors Miss Abuse
Let's look at what each of these experiences is and where they come from. Then we will compare & contrast them. Flashbacks: A flashback is an experience where you relive events of trauma. Flashbacks are only found in those with PTSD & C-PTSD. It includes feeling sensations that were experienced during the traumatic event. These … Continue reading Symptom Explainer: Flashbacks VS Intrusive Thoughts
PTSD linked psychosis is not super common but is not exceedingly rare or fake. If you think you're struggling with this reaching out for help can be amazingly helpful.
Survivors Healing Survivors 