Understanding Trauma

According to the APA (American Psychological Association)  Definition:

Trauma can be identified as the emotional and psychological response to a major event. The impact and significance of these events make them traumatic for a person. Traumatic events can be caused by a single occasion or prolonged exposure. A person is more likely to have longer-lasting emotional and psychological trauma if: 

• The person was unprepared for the event
• The event happened out of the blue
• The person felt powerless to prevent the event
• The event occurred repeatedly (such as child abuse)
• If the event involved extreme cruelty
• If the event occurred during the childhood years

Generally speaking, traumatic events involve a major threat to one’s psychological and physical well-being. They may be life-threatening; to one’s own life or the life of a loved one. These events may have very little impact on one person but can lead to significant distress in another. The impact of a traumatic event may be related to the mental and physical health of the person, past traumatic experiences, the presence of coping skills, and the level of social and emotional support at the time of the event. Examples of events and situations that can lead to the development of psychological trauma may include:

• Natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes
• Interpersonal violence like rape, child abuse, or the suicide of a loved one or friend
• Involvement in a serious car accident or workplace accident
• Acts of violence such as armed robbery, war, or terrorism

Here is a list of overlooked causes of potential emotional and psychological trauma which people do not consider:

• Breakup or divorce in a significant relationship
• Significantly humiliating experienced
• Surgery
• Falls or injuries due to sports
• The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one
• Diagnosis of a life-threatening or disabling condition

It’s important to note that other, less severe but ultimately stress-inducing situations can also trigger traumatic reactions in some men and women.

Understanding Trauma from a Holistic Approach:

When looking at trauma from a holistic approach, it is defined not as an event but as a disruption and overwhelm to our body-minds capacity to adapt, thrive, and flourish in society. 

Looking at Trauma from this perspective means it can occur when:

• There is too much too soon
• There is too much for too long
• There is not enough for too long
• The power and agency have been taken away from the person or collective
• The stressors outweigh the resources available to navigate them
• When our primal protective instincts, intuitions, and responses are thwarted
• When there is not enough time, space, or permission to heal

To effectively address trauma it is essential that we consider social, developmental, and cultural factors when reflecting on a person's trauma history. By not acknowledging these contextual factors we do the individuals a disservice. 

When recognizing trauma it is important to know that symptoms may occur immediately or emerge over time from the compounding stress and challenges of processing and adapting to the experiences of life. Trauma symptoms can emerge as symptoms in the body and the mind in an attempt to cope with and resolve the stressors. 

The effects of trauma may include: 

• Physical Symptoms: such as headaches, dizziness, tightness in the body, muscle tension, problems with digestion, and breathing constrictions. 
• Emotional Symptoms:  such as flatness/ inability to feel, fear, anxiety, panic, overwhelm, loss of choice, difficulty feeling comforted, anger, and shame.
• Psychological Symptoms: such as dissociation, mental rumination, low self-worth, negative self-talk, self-blame, brain fog, a problem with memory/ retention, depression, and loss of interest in activities, or things that made you happy. 
• Relational/ Social Symptoms: such as Isolation, loneliness, inability to become attached, or becoming overly attached, unhealthy relationship patterns or connections.

Trauma can often lead to feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, and being ungrounded/ uncentered in our lives. It interferes with our ability to feel real in our bodies and minds, it disrupts our very existence and takes away from the ability to be present in the moment. 

Recognizing how trauma is representing itself in our lives, provides us a key to being able to address the root cause and work toward healing. 

It is important to recognize that the experience of trauma is not only stored in our memories but can imprint itself into our bodies. Trauma can be stored and coded all the way down to a cellular level, which can often alter our genetic makeup. 

Which is why the process of Somatic Healing is so important. It allows us to not only work on reprogramming our minds to heal from the disruptions in our lives from life adversities but also help reprogram our bodies from any events which might have triggered negative responses. 

The Impact of Trauma on People of Color:

Examining trauma within the context of race and ethnicity is of paramount importance as it acknowledges the distinct and often complex experiences of individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Trauma is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and its impact can be influenced by various factors, including cultural norms, historical contexts, and systemic inequalities.  

Racial trauma refers to the enduring psychological and emotional impact of historical atrocities and systemic discrimination experienced by certain racial and ethnic groups. For instance, the trauma experienced by African Americans due to slavery, segregation, and ongoing racial injustice has lasting effects on individuals and communities. Examining trauma in this context allows us to recognize the historical injustices that continue to reverberate through generations. 

Systemic racism can lead to chronic stress and exposure to racial discrimination, which significantly affects mental health. Individuals of color may experience racial microaggressions, stereotypes, and discrimination, leading to anxiety, depression, and other psychological distress. 

People of color often face barriers to accessing mental health services, including cultural misunderstandings, lack of culturally competent providers, and stigma. The intersection of race and ethnicity with other identities, such as gender and sexual orientation, further exacerbates these disparities.

Racial trauma can manifest in various ways in people of color due to the enduring impact of historical and contemporary racial discrimination. It is essential to recognize that racial trauma is not a monolithic experience and can affect individuals differently based on their unique backgrounds and identities. 

How Does Racial Trauma Manifest In People of Color:

•  Emotional Distress: Racial trauma can lead to heightened emotional distress, including feelings of anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. Experiencing racial discrimination and microaggressions can evoke a range of intense emotions, impacting an individual's mental well-being. 
•  Hypervigilance and Hyperarousal: People of color may develop hypervigilance, always on guard for potential racial threats or discriminatory actions. This heightened state of alertness can lead to chronic stress and exhaustion. 
•  Physical Symptoms: Racial trauma may manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or sleep disturbances. The psychological toll of racial discrimination can impact physical health. 
•  Avoidance Behavior: Individuals may avoid places, situations, or activities that remind them of racial trauma or where they feel unsafe or unwelcome. This avoidance can limit opportunities for personal growth and community engagement. 
•  Negative Self-Perception: Experiencing racial discrimination can lead to internalized racism, where individuals may internalize negative stereotypes about their own racial or ethnic group, leading to a diminished sense of self-worth and identity. 
•  Impaired Interpersonal Relationships: Racial trauma can strain interpersonal relationships, leading to difficulties in trusting others, forming close connections, or feeling understood by others. 
•  Reduced Academic and Occupational Achievement: Racial trauma can impact academic and occupational performance due to increased stress and limited access to opportunities. 
•  Depression and Anxiety: Racial trauma can contribute to the development of depression and anxiety disorders. Individuals may struggle with feelings of helplessness and isolation. 
•  Cultural Disconnect: People of color may experience a disconnect from their cultural heritage as a result of racial trauma. They may grapple with questions of belonging and identity. 
•  Coping Through Substance Use: Some individuals may turn to substances as a coping mechanism to numb the emotional pain caused by racial trauma. 
•  Intergenerational Impact: Racial trauma can have intergenerational effects, affecting subsequent generations through the transmission of trauma and its consequences. 

Addressing racial trauma requires a comprehensive approach that involves creating safe spaces for open dialogue, promoting cultural competence in mental health care, advocating for social justice, and working towards dismantling systemic racism and discrimination. Culturally sensitive and trauma-informed support systems and interventions are essential to help individuals of color heal and build resilience in the face of racial trauma. 

According to the AAETS (American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress)  Definition:

Traumatic stress refers to the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physiological, and spiritual experience of individuals who are exposed to or who witness, events that overwhelm their coping and problem-solving abilities. These events, sometimes referred to as "critical incidents", are typically unexpected and uncontrollable. They compromise our sense of safety, and security, and leave us feeling insecure and vulnerable. 

The Impact of Traumatic Stress:

Traumatic stress disables people, causes disease, precipitates mental disorders, leads to substance abuse, and destroys relationships and families. 

Traumatic Stress is Not PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Traumatic Stress is the immediate normal response to an abnormal event. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder applied to those individuals who continue to experience a host of disturbing symptoms after exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor. 

Who experiences traumatic stress?

Traumatic stress has many "faces", and is experienced every day during and in the aftermath of our personal tragedies (e.g., facing a serious illness, dealing with the loss of a loved one, experiencing an automobile accident, etc.).

Traumatic stress is experienced by survivors of disasters and catastrophes (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, airplane crashes, terrorist attacks, train derailments, and floods). 

Generally, as the severity of a traumatic event increases, so does the level of traumatic stress experienced by the individuals. 

It is important to remember that, a traumatic stress response and PTSD can happen not only to the victims of an event but also to the witnesses surrounding the event. Individuals who may not have been directly involved in a critical incident may still be imprinted with emotional, physical, and mental scars caused by seeing the event occur. This is referred to by AAETS, as the "Imprint of Horrors".

Birth trauma is any physical or emotional distress you may experience during or after childbirth. During the birth, you may feel afraid, helpless or unsupported by those around you. After the birth, you may be left feeling guilty or numb due to events beyond your control. You could even suffer from panic attacks. 

Discussing traumatic experiences at birth, especially concerning maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates, is crucial for raising awareness about the disparities and inequities present in prenatal, perinatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, particularly within BIPOC communities. 

Maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates in the United States are alarmingly high, and the disparities are glaring. Black women and infants, in particular, experience disproportionately higher rates of death and complications compared to their white counterparts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Additionally, black infants are more than twice as likely to die within their first year of life compared to white infants.

These disparities can be attributed to a multitude of factors, including systemic racism, inadequate access to quality healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, implicit bias within the healthcare system, and the historical trauma experienced by communities of color. BIPOC individuals, especially black women, often face dismissive attitudes and neglect of their concerns during pregnancy and childbirth, leading to preventable complications and deaths.

Medical negligence and malpractice further exacerbate the issue, with numerous cases of mistreatment, misdiagnosis, and inadequate care reported in communities of color. Studies have shown that black women are less likely to receive timely and appropriate prenatal care, leading to higher rates of pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes.

Systemic racism deeply impacts the quality of care that people of color receive in hospitals and healthcare settings. Implicit biases held by healthcare providers can result in substandard treatment and contribute to the mistrust that many BIPOC individuals have towards the medical system. This lack of trust is often rooted in historical injustices such as the Tuskegee syphilis study and other instances of medical exploitation of black communities.

The trauma experienced by communities of color due to these factors is profound and long-lasting. It perpetuates a cycle of distrust and disenfranchisement within the healthcare system, further perpetuating the disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.

To address these disparities, systemic changes are imperative. This includes implementing culturally competent care practices, addressing implicit bias within healthcare institutions, increasing access to comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care, investing in community-based doula programs, advocating for policy changes to improve maternal health outcomes, and dismantling the structural racism embedded within the healthcare system.

By acknowledging and actively working to rectify these inequities, we can strive towards a future where all individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity, receive the quality care and support they deserve during pregnancy and childbirth.