TRAUMA

Shame, Guilt and Fear in Trauma Counseling

Posted on by Mark Moran

I. Introduction

Shame, guilt, and fear complicate trauma counseling. These emotions shape the therapy process and the path to recovery. Clients often feel these emotions as obstacles to healing. They find it hard to express weakness or speak honestly with their counselors. Understanding these feelings is necessary. They worsen the mental impact of trauma and cause further isolation and distress. For instance, explains how abuse and trauma link to harmful emotional responses. These responses block effective treatment. Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic also increased stress and moral injury among healthcare workers. Fear and guilt combined to damage mental health. This proves the need for specific therapy strategies (). Counselors must address shame, guilt, and fear. This work supports successful trauma counseling.(Barakat S et al., 2023) highlights how experiences of abuse and trauma are closely linked to maladaptive emotional responses, which can hinder effective treatment approaches. Additionally, during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the heightened stress and moral injuries experienced by healthcare workers illustrate how fear and guilt can aggregate, negatively impacting mental health.

Guilt, shame and fear can play large roles in preventing healing with trauma. It is essential for counselors to help clients face these emotions

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program as well as its various Healthcare Certification Programs

 

II. Definition of trauma and its psychological impact

Trauma is a reaction to distressing events that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. It leads to lasting psychological effects. These effects appear as anxiety, depression, and changes in self-perception. Shame and guilt often shape these changes. People may struggle with feelings of worthlessness and self-blame. Fear from the trauma makes these feelings worse. For instance, aspects of trauma from childhood experiences and abuse highlight compounding effects. These effects influence mental health over a lifetime. This connection is important for understanding therapeutic needs (). Stressors from events like the COVID-19 pandemic also increased existing vulnerabilities. They show how widespread fear intensifies psychological distress in these groups (). These facts show the need for trauma-informed counseling methods that address these emotional complexities.(Barakat S et al., 2023)). Furthermore, the unprecedented stressors related to events like the COVID-19 pandemic have magnified existing vulnerabilities, revealing how widespread fear can intensify psychological distress in affected populations ((Kontoangelos K et al., 2020)). Such insights underscore the need for trauma-informed counseling approaches that address these emotional intricacies.

Counselors must understand the complex emotions of shame, guilt, and fear. Each emotion affects an individual’s psychological well-being. Shame often comes from a perceived failure to meet personal or societal standards. This leads to feelings of worthlessness. Guilt typically comes from specific actions or inactions that violate a moral code. It causes regret and self-blame. Fear acts as a reaction to the threat of emotional or physical harm. It often worsens shame and guilt. These emotions can mix together in counseling. Counselors must help clients untangle them and deal with each one. Research shows that mindfulness and compassion-focused methods reduce the force of these emotions. These tools build psychological resilience and help healing. Therapists must develop methods to work with these complex feelings.(Conversano C et al., 2020). Therefore, its crucial to develop therapeutic strategies that specifically engage with these complex emotional landscapes (Maben J et al., 2020).

Trauma counseling helps individuals manage the emotions caused by their experiences. It addresses feelings of shame, guilt, and fear. These emotions hurt mental health. They increase distress and lead to harmful coping habits. Counselors discuss these feelings in therapy to create validation and understanding. Then the client can heal. Research shows a strong link between trauma and issues like anxiety and depression. This proves that proper treatment is necessary. For example, knowing the complex nature of shame and guilt shapes specific treatments. These approaches reduce symptoms and help clients build resilience. Strategies that reduce fear can restore a sense of safety. This improves the success of trauma counseling.(Barakat S et al., 2023). Moreover, strategies aiming to alleviate fear can help restore a sense of safety, thereby enhancing the overall efficacy of trauma counseling (Lene E Søvold et al., 2021).

 

II: Understanding Shame in Trauma Counseling

Shame blocks healing during trauma counseling, and it harms the relationship between therapist and client. Survivors of trauma often feel ashamed about the events they lived through. This feeling increases their distress and stops them from speaking openly in therapy. This barrier starts a cycle where shame adds to guilt and fear. Then the healing process becomes much harder. Counselors must understand these effects because shame changes how clients see their worth and control. It also affects their choice to get help. Counselors treat shame with compassion and empathy to cause real change. Clients can then face their trauma and move toward recovery. This approach helps people facing high stress in crisis situations, as highlighted by reports and studies.(Lene E Søvold et al., 2021) and (Kontoangelos K et al., 2020).

Shame has deep psychological effects on trauma survivors. It often shows up as harmful self-views that block recovery. Survivors often feel unworthy. They believe they deserved the abuse. This belief keeps a cycle of guilt and self-blame alive. These thoughts cause severe emotional results like depression and anxiety. Survivors then find it hard to build healthy relationships or ask for help. Abuse within institutions makes these feelings worse. Survivors face personal trauma alongside systemic neglect. They face betrayal from systems that were meant to protect them. Studies show that survivors of institutional abuse report deep shame about being victims. This shame makes healing harder. It also limits their ability to speak up for themselves. Addressing these feelings in counseling helps people reclaim their identity. It builds resilience. This process proves the key role of shame in recovery.(Filistrucchi P et al., 2023)(Kontoangelos K et al., 2020).

Shame often blocks individuals from finding help and healing after trauma. This emotion comes from a deep belief that one is flawed or unworthy. People hesitate to share their stories or vulnerabilities. Many victims struggle with the stigma of their experiences. Male sexual assault survivors often face this challenge. They believe harmful myths that cause silence and isolation. These barriers increase guilt and fear. Then, finding support becomes harder. New approaches like the Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) model focus on removing stigma in therapy. This model uses empathy and acceptance. It encourages openness instead of shame. This change is needed to remove barriers. It builds a better space for trauma recovery.(John C Thomas et al., 2023). Such barriers reinforce feelings of guilt and fear, leading to a compounded struggle in seeking necessary support. Furthermore, innovative frameworks like the Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) model highlight the importance of destigmatization in therapeutic settings, advocating for an empathetic and accepting approach that encourages openness rather than shame (Gorman I et al., 2021). This shift is essential for dismantling barriers and fostering a more supportive environment for trauma recovery.

Many victims of rape sometimes feel shame due to their survival response such as freeze, fawn, or fight or flight

Trauma counselors must address shame. It often mixes with guilt and fear and stops healing. Therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) help people change negative thoughts linked to shame. Mindfulness practices also work well. Recent books show they build self-compassion and reduce feelings of inferiority. These techniques improve self-awareness and control over emotions. They support trauma recovery and resilience in clients . Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) teaches self-kindness and helps people see their worth. This matters for clients fighting deep shame. Counselors use these methods together to create a safe space. Clients then face their shame and other emotions. This aids the full process of trauma recovery ..(Conversano C et al., 2020). Furthermore, compassion-focused therapy (CFT) focuses on developing self-kindness and recognizing ones worth, which is essential for clients grappling with deep-seated shame. By integrating these therapeutic modalities, counselors can create a safe environment that encourages clients to confront and process their shame, among other emotions, thereby promoting a more holistic approach to trauma recovery (Maben J et al., 2020).

 

III: The Role of Guilt in Trauma Recovery

Guilt is a complex emotion in trauma recovery. It influences the healing process. Individuals often feel guilt related to their trauma. This burden complicates their emotions and slows progress. For instance, some feel guilty about perceived failures during traumatic events. They struggle to accept their circumstances. This delays recovery. This state leads to strong shame. Individuals fight against self-blame and negative self-judgment. Research shows that addressing guilt in counseling is necessary. It aids emotional release and builds resilience. Therapy methods that encourage self-forgiveness improve mental health. They help individuals handle their feelings better. Counselors must understand the link between guilt and the lasting results of trauma. This knowledge helps them provide specific support. Clients can then own their stories and continue their recovery.(Lene E Søvold et al., 2021)(Ramaci T et al., 2020).

Trauma counselors must understand the difference between healthy and toxic guilt. Each type affects mental well-being in a distinct way. Healthy guilt acts as a moral compass. It helps people realize when they hurt others. This feeling builds empathy and accountability. Toxic guilt is different. It is a draining emotion. It often comes from impossible standards or inner criticism. This leads to feelings of shame and worthlessness. This harmful guilt stops recovery and personal growth. It traps trauma clients in loops of self-blame. Treatments that build self-compassion play a key role in reducing toxic guilt. This allows people to create a supportive inner dialogue. It lowers the sense of threat connected to this emotion. Counselors separate these two types of guilt. They adjust their methods to help clients react with healthier emotions.(Neuenschwander R et al., 2024). By differentiating between these two types of guilt, trauma counselors can tailor their approaches to foster healthier emotional responses in their clients (Maben J et al., 2024).

Guilt deeply affects self-esteem and recovery in trauma counseling. People struggle with these feelings and often feel worthless. This lowers their self-esteem and motivation to recover. This cycle causes ongoing psychological distress. It becomes hard for individuals to focus on healing. Research shows that unresolved guilt harms mental health. It can worsen trauma symptoms and stop progress in therapy. The heavy weight of guilt also leads to social isolation. People pull away from supportive relationships. This adds to their shame and despair. Effective trauma counseling must address these emotions. It should teach self-compassion and change how patients view guilt. This helps people recover and improve their self-worth.(Barakat S et al., 2023). Furthermore, the emotional burden of guilt often results in social isolation, as individuals withdraw from supportive relationships, compounding their feelings of shame and despair (Andra Cătălina Roșca et al., 2021). Effective trauma counseling must, therefore, address these emotions, fostering self-compassion and reframing guilt, which can empower individuals on their journey toward recovery and improved self-worth.

Many can feel guilt as well during a survival response, questioning their choices. Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program

Trauma counselors help clients process guilt for emotional healing. One method is creating a safe environment. Clients discuss guilt there without judgment. They explore the origins of the feeling. They see how it affects their lives and relationships. Counselors also use cognitive-behavioral tools. These challenge negative thoughts. Clients change their stories and separate guilt from shame. Group therapy shares these experiences. Clients feel less alone. Programs like Before Operational Stress (BOS) show that early action builds resilience. These programs support healthy relationships. This shows we must address guilt in a structured way.(Rokach A et al., 2023) (Andrea M Stelnicki et al., 2021).

 

IV: The Influence of Fear in the Counseling Process

Fear acts as a barrier and a catalyst in trauma counseling. Clients enter counseling with fear from past traumas. It hinders their ability to talk openly and honestly with the counselor. This hesitation blocks the healing process. The COVID-19 pandemic makes this reaction worse. Individuals feel overwhelming stress and anxiety. This is especially true for vulnerable populations, and it makes existing fears stronger. Healthcare workers also face high levels of fear and anxiety. They often struggle with moral injury and burnout from the pressures of their roles. This complicates their mental health. Counselors must address these fears. They have to create a safe and supportive environment. This encourages clients to confront their fears. Doing so leads to recovery and resilience in the face of trauma.(Lene E Søvold et al., 2021). Furthermore, healthcare workers, who also face heightened levels of fear and anxiety, often struggle with moral injury and burnout due to the pressures of their roles, complicating their mental health (Kontoangelos K et al., 2020). Consequently, addressing these fears within the counseling framework becomes essential; counselors must create a safe and supportive environment that encourages clients to confront their fears, ultimately facilitating recovery and resilience in the face of trauma.

Fear often stands out as a main emotional response in people who have lived through trauma. It serves as a psychological defense. But it also acts as a big block to healing. This wide-reaching emotion appears in many places. It affects vulnerable groups heavily. Healthcare workers dealing with crises like the COVID-19 pandemic are a clear example. Reports show that fear, anxiety, and stress surged among these workers. These feelings worsen challenges like burnout and moral injury. Such problems make it difficult to cope with the results of traumatic experiences. The pandemic raised fear levels in medical professionals. It also impacted children and older adults. It made them feel unsafe and led to deep psychological effects. Trauma counseling must view fear as a standard response. Treating this emotion helps patients build resilience and recover.(Lene E Søvold et al., 2021). Furthermore, the pandemic has not only heightened fear among healthcare professionals but has also impacted children and older adults, instilling a sense of vulnerability that leads to profound psychological effects (Kontoangelos K et al., 2020). Recognizing fear as a common response to trauma is essential for trauma counseling, as addressing this emotion is crucial for promoting resilience and facilitating recovery.

Fear plays a large part in avoidance behaviors. This is true in trauma counseling. Fear acts as a defense against perceived threats. Survivors of traumatic events often use avoidance. They do this to reduce the fear and anxiety linked to reminders of their trauma. This reaction appears in the demographic trends of eating disorders. Emotional pain from trauma leads people to avoid specific situations. They shun triggers that spark negative emotions or memories. Fear continues to guide these patterns. It worsens feelings of isolation and discomfort. Then the cycle of harmful coping strategies repeats itself. Counselors must address fear to stop this avoidance loop. This work builds better coping mechanisms. The process helps the patient recover and gain resilience.(Barakat S et al., 2023). Furthermore, as fear continues to influence these avoidance patterns, it can exacerbate feelings of isolation and discomfort, thus perpetuating a cycle of maladaptive coping strategies (Hay P, 2020). Consequently, addressing fear in trauma counseling is essential for breaking the cycle of avoidance and fostering healthier coping mechanisms, ultimately promoting recovery and resilience.

Fear can play a large role in trauma recovery. Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program

Counselors must manage fear to build a safe space for healing. One common technique is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). It encourages clients to notice thoughts and feelings without judgment. This practice eases anxiety and builds self-compassion. Individuals can then face fears in a supportive setting. Practitioners also use cognitive-behavioral strategies. These help clients change negative thought patterns linked to trauma. The change reduces the strength of fear responses. Grounding techniques like deep breathing give clients control. They help people stay present during distressing moments. The mental health crisis shows the value of these approaches. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic made the crisis worse. Structured plans are now important for clients and professionals.(Conversano C et al., 2020). Moreover, practitioners can integrate cognitive-behavioral strategies that help clients reframe negative thought patterns associated with trauma, thereby reducing the intensity of fear responses. Creating grounding techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, further empowers clients to maintain presence and control during distressing moments. As the ongoing mental health crisis, exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the importance of these approaches, integrating structured interventions becomes increasingly vital for both clients and healthcare professionals (Lene E Søvold et al., 2021).

 

V: Conclusion

Trauma counseling must address shame, guilt, and fear. These emotions mix together and shape the healing process for survivors. They often stop people from speaking and keep them isolated. Survivors struggle with the belief that their pain is shameful or undeserved. Stories from participatory research show that we must acknowledge these feelings. Doing so builds strength and helps victims of institutional abuse recover . We also need to understand the emotional work people do, such as coping with phantom limb sensations after an amputation. This example highlights the many sides of trauma and how it appears . Counselors can focus therapy on these emotions to create a safe place. Survivors then feel able to voice their experiences. This leads to progress and shared healing.(Filistrucchi P et al., 2023). Furthermore, understanding the emotional balancing acts individuals undertake, such as coping with phantom limb sensations post-amputation, underlines the multifaceted nature of trauma and its manifestations (Andra Cătălina Roșca et al., 2021). By centering therapy around these emotions, counselors can create a safe environment where survivors feel empowered to voice their experiences, ultimately paving the way for therapeutic progress and communal healing.g

Shame, guilt, and fear are major factors in trauma counseling. They affect a client’s mind and ability to heal. Shame usually comes from a sense of worthlessness. It can block recovery by creating isolation and self-blame. Guilt often comes from the belief that one failed to protect themselves or others. This worsens trauma symptoms and slows progress in therapy. Fear links to past traumas and causes strong anxiety. This makes it hard for people to face their experiences or participate in therapy. Therapists must recognize these complex emotions. They are important because they can stop recovery or help it. These emotions get stronger during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. This proves the need for trauma-informed care that treats such feelings well.(Lene E Søvold et al., 2021)(Kontoangelos K et al., 2020).

Emotional awareness is key in the therapeutic process. It helps in trauma counseling because feelings of shame, guilt, and fear often block healing. Therapists use this awareness to help clients name their emotions. This leads to a clear understanding of their trauma. This awareness helps clients face hard feelings. It also builds self-acceptance and strength against adversity. Research shows that shame and guilt worsen mental health issues. They cause a cycle of avoidance and distress. But building emotional awareness reduces these problems. Clients can view their experiences differently in a helpful environment. So, focusing on emotional awareness helps individuals manage their trauma. It encourages useful coping methods. The result is better mental well-being.(Barakat S et al., 2023). In contrast, cultivating emotional awareness mitigates these issues by allowing clients to reframe their experiences and emotions in a supportive environment. Consequently, prioritizing emotional awareness in therapy not only empowers individuals to navigate their trauma but also encourages the development of adaptive coping strategies, ultimately leading to enhanced mental well-being (Lene E Søvold et al., 2021).

Trauma counseling is changing. Future research and practice must focus on understanding the mix of shame, guilt, and fear. We must add to current writings to build specific treatment plans. These plans must directly treat the emotional responses in trauma survivors. Recent findings connect childhood experiences and personality traits to trauma symptoms. These factors play a large role. This shows a need for personalized therapy. Qualitative studies also suggest that emotional balancing helps people feel normal again. It could serve as a base for new counseling models. Researchers and practitioners can study these areas to improve current methods. They can create evidence-based plans that help survivors heal. This work will improve mental health results for many groups.(Barakat S et al., 2023). Moreover, qualitative studies suggest that emotional balancing is essential for individuals striving to regain normalcy after trauma, which could serve as a foundational element for new counseling frameworks (Andra Cătălina Roșca et al., 2021). By exploring these dimensions, researchers and practitioners can enhance existing methodologies and create more effective, evidence-based strategies that foster resilience and healing among trauma-affected individuals, ultimately improving mental health outcomes in diverse populations.

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Certification Program

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Certification as well as AIHCP’s numerous other healthcare certifications

Other AIHCP blogs: Emotional Abuse.  Access here

Additional Information

APA. (2025). “How to cope with traumatic stress”. Access here

Herzberg, B. (2025). “The Differences Between Guilt and Shame”. Psychology Today. Access here

“Guilt as part of PTSD; and ways to dismantle it”. PTSDuk.  Access here

Gillette, H. (2024). “What’s the Relationship Between Trauma and Anxiety?”. Healthline. Access here

 

 

Trauma and Informed Care and Imminent Danger in Counseling Video Blog

Posted on by Mark Moran

It is a grave and immense responsibility of counselors to protect their clients when imminent harm to themselves, others or abuse is reported.  Confidentiality has its limitations in these cases and a legal obligation to report becomes necessary.  This video looks at signs of imminent harm as well as how to help clients understand the need to submit to the safest decisions that may include temporary mental ward observation or reporting an abuser.

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications as well as AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Certification

Trauma Informed Care: Understanding Dissociation

Posted on by Mark Moran

The most common trait we think of when discussing PTSD is dissociation.  Whether through flashbacks, or disconnections from the present, dissociation primarily seen as a pathological left over from a traumatic event, most seen with combat veterans.  Within this imagery, one sees a firecracker or backfire from a car that sends a military veteran into a flashback of a past war scene.  While this is accurately captures PTSD, this is only one minor aspect of dissociation and only illustrates its pathological symptoms instead of its overall necessity within the protective and defense mechanisms of the human body against extrema trauma.  It is important to remember according to Contreras, that some dissociative behaviors are also part of the human experience and not necessarily pathological symptoms (2024, P, 181).   In this blog, we will shortly look at dissociation in a broader scope and see how it exists not only during the trauma, but after the trauma as well, and how it manifests in multiple different ways.

Dissociation while a natural mechanism for some during the actual trauma becomes pathological if it becomes chronic and persistent after the actual trauma event

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare certifications, especially AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care and Spiritual Trauma Informed Care programs.

Peritraumatic Dissociation

During extreme stress or trauma, or life or death situations, the body’s autonomic nervous system responds through its sympathetic or parasympathetic branches.  As discussed in previous blogs, this can lead to fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or even fade.  Since dissociation deals with fade or immobility, it is part of the parasympathetic response during a traumatic event.  In its peritraumatic state, the survival mechanism is natural and looks to help the person disconnect, detach, or compartmentalize the event.  This is shutdown is is to spare the mind the horrible nature of the event and other emotional and mental damages, albeit, it also shuts the person’s physical abilities to continue resistance.  During this moment of detachment, the Prefrontal Cortex’s emotional processing is inhibited and the sympathetic activity is reduced.  In turn, the parasympathetic response increases and the activity of the cortico limbic brain creates algesics to skip the process of storing memories, or recalling memories, especially painful ones.  In addition, analgesics are produced to reduce pain and numb the body from the event (Contreras, 2024, p. 176-177).   This process can leave gaps in memory as well as other cognitive and emotional related issues.  The more traumatic event, the more traumatic the dissociation and due to this the  higher possibility to dissociate later (Contreras, 2024, p. 173).

What to remember is this natural defense and survival response is normal in its hope of protecting the mind and body.

Posttraumatic Dissociation

Dissociation becomes pathological when it continues to haunt the mind after the actual event.  The mind can be easily triggered due to similar scents, surroundings or signs that evoke the survival response.  For many, they are already existing in a constant survival strategy mode, keeping systems on red alert.  Within dissociation, individuals may experience psychological and functional alterations of memory and identity.  Others may sense physiological symptoms such as temperature loss in the limbs, or a lowered heart rate.  Others may sense a detachment from surroundings or disconnect from bodily sensations.  Others may experience less pathological experiences with temporary states of day dreaming or disengagement with life (Contreras, 2024, p. 174).   Various aspects are also affected by dissociation such as loss of time, disconnect from body, disconnect from identity of self, lack of motivation, amnesia and memory loss, or loss of capacity to recognize emotions and their affect, meaning and range (Contreras, 2024, p. 175).  All of these issues represent true significant issues for a person who has not returned to homostatis or baseline due to the traumatic event.  Since the body remains in a state of survival mode, mechanisms that are meant to be temporary instead are becoming permanent states of being for the individual.

Dissociation can become especially dangerous when in its extreme form it can cause individuals to become invert and thoughtless to their surroundings or what is happening.  When amnesia is present, it can disconnect a person from their true self which forces the person to create new schemas or behaviors that are extreme in nature (Contreras, 2024, p, 182).

Dissociation according to the DSM-5 can also be experienced as a DPDR disorder (Depersonalization-Derealization disorder), as a Dissociative Identity disorder (multiple personality) or a amnesia based disorder.  Due to these more extreme cases, it is critical to find help if these issues grow worst or persist.  With personalization, the person feels detached, or even as an outside observer of one’s mental processes.  With derealization where one experiences a type of unreality about one’s surroundings, as if dreamlike, distant or distorted (Contreras, 2024, p,. 319).

Finding Help

Therapists, especially those trained in trauma informed care, are especially equipped to help a person again find baseline or homostasis.  They can help the individual again deactivate the autonomous nervous system and turn off survival mechanisms that have hijacked the overall person’s life.  This involves not only learning to regulate emotions, but also instructing others in grounding techniques that can limit the dissociation.   In many cases, exposure therapy and reframing is necessary to help the person move beyond the traumatic event.  It involves helping the brain properly store the memory and process it.   In doing so, the brain can eventually reset without being alerted to non threats.

Please also review AIHCP’s blog on grounding techniques for those suffering from PTSD.  Click here

Conclusion

Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certifications as well as its Trauma Informed Care program

Dissociation is a natural response of the parasympathetic nervous system that involves detachment during a traumatic event.  It shuts down many centers of the brain for memory by effecting encoding , storage and retrieval.   Instead the memory becomes emotional and tied to the amygdala.  Additionally, the hippocampus  has a difficult time differentiating the past memory and event with the present moment and associates everything as imminent.  This in turn leads to triggers and continued detachment from non existent threats.   Since the body remains in a state of red alert, dissociation as a survival mechanism instead becomes a survival strategy that persists until the person is finally able to resolve the past trauma.

Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certifications as well as its Trauma Informed Care and Spiritual Trauma Informed Care programs.

Resource

Contreras, A (2024). “Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Sympathetic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders”

Additional Resources

Tull, M. (2025). “What Is Dissociation?.  Very Well Mind.  Access here

“Dissociation”. Psychology Today.  Access here

“Dissociative Disorders”. Mayo Clinic.  Access here

Guy Evans, O. (2025). “What Is Dissociation? Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment”. Simply Psychology. Access here

Trauma Informed Care: Emotional Abuse

Posted on by Mark Moran

Abuse has many faces.  It can be physical, it can be sexual and it also can be emotional.  Prolonged emotional abuse which is chronic overtime chips away at the person and places him or her into a state of constant survival.  Instead of stress responses acting as responses in the moment to survive, they become a constant state of existence.  This is one of the primary differences between PTSD and C-PTSD.  Under long periods of repeated duress due to emotional abuse or even neglect, the brain rewires itself to exist within a survival state.  With no acute emotional wound but a collection and series of events, emotional abuse or any type of abuse that is chronic or repeated, becomes difficult to discern what started ignition from survival response to survival state itself.   The delicate balance of allstasis or the ability to remain stable adjusts to constant change eventually reaches a state of allostatic load that eventually can crash in which the survival state becomes a new state that overtakes the person.

Emotional abuse is abuse. Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program as well as AIHCP’s numerous behavioral healthcare certifications

Neglect and Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is a trauma overtime that can lead to a survival state due to the repeated abuse or neglect.   Around 80 percent of all maltreatment of children can be reduced to emotional abuse and neglect.  While these things do not necessarily require physical or sexual abuse, they gradually wear the person down.  This is especially true of children with developing brains that can be hindered by chronic emotional abuse or neglect.

According to Contreras, neglect as a type of abuse categorized as omission (2024, p. 183).  With neglect and emotional abuse, the child or even person enters into a state of survival mode.  One is on red alert constantly for what may go wrong in a particular day due neglect or emotional abuse.  When those limits are met, just like any stress, the person is able to adjust or lose ability to cope and falls victim to the stressor, trauma or abuse.  These individuals will have emotional regulation issues, hyper or hypo arousal states, and react to the abuse in different ways according to these states.  Individuals under constant barrage can fall into fight, flight, fawn or fade as the daily barrage of abuse or neglect degrades their personhood, identity and mood.  In these cases to survive the prolonged neglect and abuse, the person appeases, becomes aggressive with others, looks to escape confrontations, look to please, or fade into thinking there is no true abuse (Contreras, 2014, p. 201-202).  From this, neglect and emotional abuse drains the person of self, identity  and self worth, replacing daily actions into survival responses adapted for prolonged exposure to the stressors or minor traumas of the day.  It is because of this that many who have gone through such abuse or neglect, develop C-PTSD.

Emotional Abuse and Neglect

Neglect to basic needs, both physical and mental are detrimental to children and their development into mentally stable adults.  Neglect and emotional abuse not only hurts the development of the brain but also can lead to physical ailments due to the constant state of survival.

Chronic emotional abuse according to Contreras is any words or non physical actions that hurt, belittle, weaken, manipulate or frightens a person.  In addition the abuse causes distortion and confusion that shakes the person’s very stability in life.  Many forms of mental abuse are carried on through neglect, but also intimidation, manipulation, objectification, gaslighting, yelling, and even obsessive jealousy (2024, p. 184).   Individuals are left with exhaustion, depression, low self esteem, and feel trapped.  In doing so they look for maladaptive ways to cope with trauma.  Many times, especially children, but also adults, can become stuck in a co-dependent relationship which are detrimental to all levels of their existence.  While the person is not in a life or death situation,  the person does develop a shattered sense of self.  This is accomplished through mind games, devaluation, and scheming that mentally undermines the person.  Contreras lists manipulation, gaslighting and objectification as key ways of controlling and harming the person (2024, p. 187-189).

Manipulation, gaslighting and objectifying another human being are all types of emotional abuse. Please review AIHCP’s behavioral health certification programs

Manipulation

Contreras defines manipulation as a type of subtle abuse to debilitate a person’s will and capabilities to obtain personal gain,  control, submission, obedience and pleasure from the abused (2024, p. 187).    Individuals who are constantly manipulated lose sense of self, and self esteem leading them to feel used, depressed and hopeless.  If they do not respond to the manipulation, many emotionally and neglected fear abandonment and rejection from the abuser.

Gaslighting

According to Contreras, gaslighting is an effective for abusers to control and manipulate their victim.  They do so by making the individual doubt his or her own reality making the person feel crazy or insecure (2024, p. 188).  It intentional to control the person and keep them within the abuser’s web of chaos.

Objectifying 

In many cases, those who are emotionally abused, as well as physical, are objectified as property.  The person loses autonomy of self.   Contreras lists a variety of ways objectification occurs.  Instrumentality refers to using the person as a tool to meet an end or satisfy one’s own goals.  Denial of autonomy refers to the inability for the person to act on his or her own without consent from the abuser. Ownership refers to a person’s literal autonomy belonging to the abuser to be used and sold as the abuser sees fit.   Denial of subjectivity dismisses the abused and his or her experiences or feelings as not worthy of attention or need.  Finally silencing refers to taking away the person’s voice (Contreras, 2024, p. 190-191).

Individuals who objectify other human beings in general lack any form of empathy, are ego-centric, and put their needs and goals over everyone.  They are usually tied to the personality disorder of narcissism (Contreras, 2024, p. 189).

Unfortunately, this leads to trauma bonding which according to Contreras, leads the abused to an attachment with the abuser that disempowers the individual into a perpetual state of defeat under the mirage of being loved (2024, p. 192).

Conclusion

Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certification as well as its trauma informed care program

Severe neglect, as well as emotional abuse is a different wound than physical wounds.  They may not inflict immediate death or harm but they lead to a chronic breaking of the spirit and the person’s development.  It leads to a host of emotional and mental problems that destroy the mind and soul.  Due to its usual chronic state and repeated offenses, it wears the person down and can manifest in states of C–PTSD where the person enters into a constant survival state that breaks down not only the mind but the body.  It steals the joy of life and the dreams of others.

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Certification as well as AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

 

Additional Blog

PTSD vs C-PTSD.  Click here

Resource

Contreras, A. (2024). Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systematic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders”

Additional Resources

Valdez, R. (2025). “Signs of Emotional Abuse”. VeryWellMind. Access here

Pietrangelo, A. & Raypole, C. (2025). “How to Recognize the Signs of Emotional Abuse”. Healthline. Access here

“Emotional Abuse”. Psychology Today.  Access here

“What Is Emotional Abuse”. National Domestic Violence Hotline.  Access here

 

 

 

Trauma Informed Care: Resiliency and Post Traumatic Growth

Posted on by Mark Moran

 

I. Introduction

The complex interplay between trauma, resiliency, and post-traumatic growth serves as a profound area of study, offering insights into the human experience following distressing events. Trauma, often defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, can have a far-reaching impact on individuals, challenging their psychological resilience and emotional fortitude. However, not all who endure trauma succumb to its debilitating effects; instead, many exhibit a remarkable capacity for recovery and transformation. This phenomenon, known as post-traumatic growth, encapsulates the notion that individuals can emerge from traumatic experiences with newfound strengths, perspectives, and appreciation for life. Understanding this relationship is vital, as it highlights the adaptive potential inherent in human beings, fostering a sense of hope and possibility even amidst suffering. Thus, this essay will explore these interconnected themes, seeking to illuminate how trauma can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and resilience (Richard G Tedeschi et al., 2025-07-23).

Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certifications

Post traumatic growth and new roads to travel after a traumatic event

 

A. Definition of trauma and its prevalence in society

Trauma, fundamentally understood as an emotional response to distressing events, manifests in numerous ways, affecting individuals mentally, physically, and socially. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, from personal losses and accidents to exposure to violence and natural disasters, resulting in significant psychological repercussions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . Prevalence rates indicate that a substantial portion of the population encounters some form of trauma during their lifetime; studies suggest that nearly 70% of adults in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event, with many grappling with the long-term effects (Bhugra D, 2021-02-04). This widespread incidence underscores the urgency to address trauma within various societal contexts, including healthcare, education, and community support systems, as its impacts extend beyond the individual, influencing familial relations and community dynamics. Understanding trauma’s definition and prevalence is vital for fostering resilience and facilitating pathways to healing.

 

B. Overview of resiliency and its importance in coping with trauma

Resiliency plays a crucial role in the process of coping with trauma, as it encompasses an individual’s ability to adapt and thrive despite adverse experiences. This psychological strength allows individuals to employ effective coping strategies, which can lead to post-traumatic growth (PTG). For instance, research focusing on survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami reveals that those who utilized problem-focused coping were significantly more likely to experience PTG, highlighting the importance of adaptive strategies in long-term recovery (Hidayati SHS et al., 2025). Similarly, studies on veterans demonstrate that resilience and effective stress coping styles aid in their adaptation after combat experiences, allowing for personal growth and improved psychosocial well-being (T Kudrina et al., 2024). Therefore, fostering resiliency not only enhances coping mechanisms but also serves as a foundational element for individuals to find meaning and strength in their lives following trauma, ultimately facilitating their journey toward recovery.

 

C. Introduction to the concept of post-traumatic growth

The concept of post-traumatic growth (PTG) emerges from the recognition that individuals often derive positive transformations in the aftermath of trauma. This idea challenges the traditional view that trauma merely leads to psychological distress, emphasizing instead the potential for adaptive changes. Research indicates that those exposed to significant trauma, such as first responders during critical incidents, may exhibit varying profiles of post-trauma responses, including PTG alongside post-traumatic stress symptoms (Brickman S et al., 2023). Furthermore, qualitative studies among populations like female military veterans reveal that the meaning-making process following traumatic experiences can foster resilience and personal growth (A’mie M Preston et al., 2022). These findings underscore the complexity of trauma recovery, suggesting that while pain and suffering are prevalent, they can coexist with significant personal development. Understanding PTG not only enriches our comprehension of traumas effects but also highlights the importance of supporting adaptive coping strategies in therapeutic contexts.

 

II. Understanding Trauma

Trauma, an intricate and multifaceted phenomenon, profoundly affects individuals, often altering their psychological and emotional landscapes. It can stem from various sources, including personal loss, violence, or natural disasters, and its impact is not merely a fleeting experience but can lead to lasting effects on ones mental health and overall functioning. Understanding trauma involves recognizing both the immediate and ripple effects it can have on an individual’s life, as well as their relationships and sense of self. Importantly, the concept of trauma does not only encompass adverse experiences but also integrates individual responses to these experiences, which can lead to diverse manifestations of distress or resilience. Furthermore, examining the neurological and psychological mechanisms behind trauma helps illuminate pathways for healing and recovery, suggesting that recognizing ones trauma is the first step toward fostering resilience and facilitating post-traumatic growth (Ritblatt SN et al., 2022-09-28).

Trauma shakes us to the core. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare certifications

 

A. Types of trauma: acute, chronic, and complex trauma

Understanding trauma necessitates a distinction between its various types: acute, chronic, and complex trauma, each possessing unique characteristics and implications for recovery. Acute trauma typically results from a singular distressing event, such as a natural disaster or personal assault, leading to immediate psychological impacts often seen in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In contrast, chronic trauma entails prolonged exposure to stressors, such as domestic violence or long-term illness, resulting in more deeply ingrained psychological issues and affecting an individual’s capacity for resilience. Complex trauma, characterized by exposure to multiple traumatic events, often in the context of interpersonal relationships, complicates recovery further by fostering feelings of helplessness and mistrust. Research highlights that addressing the specificities of each trauma type can improve therapeutic strategies, particularly for those recovering from complex conditions where acute episodes may emerge as complications, reflecting the critical need for tailored interventions in the aftermath of trauma (O Adegboye et al., 2025), (Litvinchik А. et al., 2025).

 

B. Psychological and physiological effects of trauma on individuals

Trauma exerts profound psychological and physiological effects on individuals, significantly shaping their resilience and potential for post-traumatic growth. Psychological responses to trauma often include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can hinder emotional stability and interpersonal relationships. Research indicates that individuals with a history of childhood trauma exhibit heightened trauma symptomatology, impacting their capacity to cope with subsequent stressors and increasing the risk of revictimization in adulthood (Brooks et al., 2015). Physiologically, trauma can precipitate changes within the brain and body, including alterations in stress response systems that may lead to chronic health issues. Furthermore, integrating arts and creative therapies has emerged as a promising avenue in addressing the health challenges faced by trauma survivors, thereby fostering healing and enhancing overall well-being (N/A, 2013). Understanding these intricate interactions is essential for developing effective interventions aimed at promoting resiliency and facilitating recovery.

 

C. The role of social and environmental factors in trauma experiences

Understanding the role of social and environmental factors in trauma experiences is crucial for comprehending the pathways to resiliency and post-traumatic growth. Social support significantly influences an individual’s ability to cope with trauma, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where coworker support emerged as the strongest predictor of post-traumatic growth among nurses facing unprecedented challenges (Seo J et al., 2025). This highlights the importance of social networks in facilitating recovery and adaptation. Additionally, environmental factors such as job conditions and resource availability contribute to the potential for growth following traumatic experiences, underscoring the need for supportive organizational structures. Moreover, for emerging adults with a history of childhood trauma, external resources like professional services and social networks serve as protective factors that enable resilience and adaptation (Bahardeen FA et al., 2025). Collectively, these elements illuminate the complex interplay of social and environmental influences that shape trauma experiences and promote recovery pathways.

 

III. The Concept of Resiliency

Resiliency plays a critical role in how individuals cope with trauma, serving as a fundamental psychological resource that fosters adaptation and recovery following adverse experiences. It is important to distinguish resiliency from concepts such as post-traumatic growth (PTG), which refers to the positive changes emerging from crises. While PTG signifies a transformative process that can lead to enhanced personal development, resiliency encompasses a broader set of skills and traits that can be cultivated in response to any form of adversity, not just traumatic events (Yu.S Kotovska, 2023). In contexts fraught with instability, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, fostering resiliency becomes essential for youth who are particularly vulnerable to emotional disturbances and anxiety (Syniakova V et al., 2025). Thus, interventions aimed at enhancing resiliency, such as emotional regulation and coping strategies, become vital components in the overall framework for psychological support and post-traumatic recovery.

 

 

A. Definition and characteristics of resiliency

Resiliency, defined as the capacity to adapt and recover from adversity, plays a crucial role in the process of post-traumatic growth. This characteristic is not merely about enduring but involves actively engaging with and transforming one’s experiences into opportunities for personal development. Individuals demonstrating resiliency often employ adaptive coping strategies, which can include acceptance and planning, as evidenced in studies where effective coping mechanisms mediated the relationship between resiliency and post-traumatic growth (Ogi Nńska-Bulik et al., 2015). Furthermore, resiliency embodies the ability to reframe traumatic experiences, allowing individuals to reconstruct their value systems and gain insight into their lives, as highlighted by recent findings in Positive Psychology (Poseck BV et al., 2006). By understanding the characteristics of resiliency, such as emotional regulation and social support, we gain valuable insight into how individuals not only survive but thrive following trauma, ultimately facilitating a path to growth and enhanced well-being.

 

 

B. Factors that contribute to individual resiliency

Resilience, that key ingredient for coping with trauma and even growing from it, comes from all sorts of places, like having people who support you, the way you think, and getting help from specific programs. Take online social support, for example. It really stepped up during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Connecting with others and sharing what you’re going through can seriously boost your emotional resilience. Studies show it can make you more grateful and help you see things in a new light, which can lead to post-traumatic growth (Hao X et al., 2025). Then there are programs like the Maeum Program in South Korea. It’s a stabilization-centered intervention that has been shown to help people deal with psychiatric symptoms and actually grow after trauma. These types of programs usually focus on teaching people about what they’re going through and giving them coping strategies. This reinforces those resilience factors that are so important for recovering and adapting after something traumatic (Oh IM et al., 2025).

 

C. The impact of social support systems on resiliency

It’s hard to overstate how important social support systems are when it comes to helping people bounce back from trauma. Think of social support as a safety net – it boosts a person’s ability to handle stress and tough times. When people have strong bonds with family, friends, and their community, that really helps them stay emotionally stable, which is super important for resilience. Research has shown that people who have solid social networks tend to report fewer trauma symptoms and are generally doing better overall in their lives. This highlights just how crucial those community connections are for healing. On top of this, certain systemic issues – we’re talking about things like implicit racism and stigma – hit marginalized groups especially hard. This makes it clear that we need support systems designed to address those specific issues (Rich J, 2016). When we really get how different trauma experiences can be, and how they affect people in different ways, we can see that having comprehensive social support systems is essential for helping people grow after trauma and supporting them as they work toward recovery (Brooks et al., 2015).

IV. Post-Traumatic Growth

Post-traumatic growth, or PTG, shows how people can actually grow after really tough times. It’s not just about bouncing back to normal like resilience; PTG means that bad experiences can actually make you see things differently, feel stronger, and have better relationships. Studies show that after trauma, people might find a new love for life, feel more for others, and rethink what’s important to them (Shakespeare-Finch J et al., 2024-02-27). These changes often happen because of big questions and struggles that come up when you’re healing, pushing you to really think about what you believe in. Because of all this, PTG highlights a hopeful part of being human. It shows that we don’t just sit back and take trauma—we can actively rebuild who we are and make our lives better even after we’ve suffered.

Recovering and moving forward after trauma. Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program

 

A. Definition and key components of post-traumatic growth

Generally speaking, post-traumatic growth, or PTG, considers positive psychological shifts that may follow difficult life events, especially trauma. This idea has become noteworthy because it emphasizes that individuals, in most cases, may come away from such experiences with a greater sense of personal strength, deeper connections with others, and a changed perspective on what they value in life. Key elements of PTG involve changes in how one views themself, a heightened feeling of purpose, and the formation of new priorities and values. Furthermore, PTG emphasizes the significance of how individuals perceive their growth, rather than relying just on what can be observed outwardly (Keidar M, 2013). The resilience shown while dealing with trauma highlights that, even though such events are exceptionally difficult, they also provide chances for deep personal change and revitalization, as studied within Positive Psychology (Poseck BV et al., 2006).

 

B. Stages of post-traumatic growth and personal transformation

Generally speaking, post-traumatic growth illustrates a pretty significant transformation that people might go through after experiencing trauma. It’s marked by several stages that help with healing and personal development. At first, someone might feel shock and confusion, which leads them to rethink what’s important and how they see life. As they work through their emotional stuff, they often find they’re more resilient, so they can adapt and take on new chances to grow. For example, studies have shown that renal transplant recipients often report positive changes in their mental state after surgery, seeing optimism and personal growth as key results of their experience (Kamran F et al., 2016). Moreover, research suggests people often rebuild their values after trauma, implying that even when things are tough, there’s room for positive changes in life. Ultimately, these stages of post-traumatic growth emphasize the human capacity to become stronger and more resilient when facing life’s challenges (Poseck BV et al., 2006).

 

C. Case studies illustrating post-traumatic growth in individuals

Considering specific instances of people who have gone through traumatic events gives insight into the nuanced connection between hardship and development after the trauma, which shows a route of strength and change. A good example of this is the psychological changes seen in those who lived through the Iran-Iraq war. (Hashemi M et al., 2025). Their enduring early trauma could nurture better emotional strength and coping tactics. Even when trauma’s effects remain, their stories show how people can build resilience and improve their cognitive abilities. Similarly, young adults from Klang Valley, Malaysia, said that social support and creative activities were essential in their growth because they assisted them in overcoming challenges brought on by past traumas (Bahardeen FA et al., 2025). These particular cases emphasize that even though trauma frequently results in tremendous pain, it can also spark significant personal growth, which reinforces the idea that strong coping mechanisms can emerge from even the worst situations.

 

V. Conclusion

To sum up, the ways that trauma, resilience, and post-traumatic growth interact really shows how complicated it is for people to react to upsetting situations. Like recent research shows, including looking at how palliative care nurses use self-reflexive blog writing, people can still grow and become more resilient even when dealing with big problems, like those that came up during the COVID-19 pandemic (N Lalani et al., 2025). Also, what mental health workers went through during the Israel-Hamas conflict points out how trauma has two sides: personal resilience can help protect against feeling anxious and stressed, but it can also lead to post-traumatic growth (Dahan S et al., 2024). This complicated relationship suggests that trauma, while obviously upsetting, can also kick-start big personal changes if people have the right ways to cope and good social support. For that reason, it’s very important for people and professionals to understand these things when working on trauma recovery, which opens the door for ways to use resilience to help people heal and grow.

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program as well as its other healthcare certification programs
Resiliency to bounce back and post traumatic growth to find new meaning in life after loss are key parts of recovering from trauma

 

A. Summary of the relationship between trauma, resiliency, and growth

Navigating tough times involves a complex dance between trauma, resilience, and personal growth. Sure, trauma can hit hard, but research suggests resilience often softens the blow, influencing how much growth we see afterward. For instance, (Her T et al., 2025) points out that resilience and, interestingly, thinking things over intentionally can really help in reflecting and processing emotions post-trauma. Empathy and a belief in one’s own abilities also play a role. Studies on nursing students, for example, show that these traits can lessen the negative impacts of trauma and encourage positive results ((Doaa L Shahin et al., 2025)). So, boosting resilience and empathy in education and therapy is key. It’s not just about bouncing back; it’s about growing and changing for the better because of what we’ve been through. Adversity, then, holds surprising potential for transformation.

 

B. Implications for mental health practices and interventions

For those in the mental health field, it’s incredibly important to really grasp how trauma, resilience, and even growth after trauma can affect how we treat and help people. Recognizing the important part that spirituality can play – as a resource – is vital for helping people build resilience and heal after tough times. When people use their faith to cope, it seems they often function better and even find ways to grow from the experience, like seeing loss and suffering in a new light (Dr. Bajpai P, 2025). Moreover, schools can be key in supporting the mental well-being of teenagers. A caring and understanding environment helps them bounce back from difficulties and maybe even grow stronger (Khoirunnisa M et al., 2025). So, using trauma-informed approaches, focusing on spirituality, and encouraging supportive settings can greatly improve our methods of intervention. Ultimately, this can lead to better results for people dealing with the many layers of trauma.

 

C. Final thoughts on fostering resilience and promoting growth after trauma

To summarize, when thinking about trauma, promoting resilience and personal development isn’t just important for individuals—it can really help whole communities. Interventions that work best focus on improving mental resources. Things like resilience, belief in yourself, and good memories are key; research shows they help people grow after hard times (Ime Y et al., 2025). A complete view suggests older models need updating. It is important to think about values. People will need to reconstruct their personal priorities and beliefs after trauma (Y Nazar, 2024). Acknowledging the psychological and value-based elements, practitioners can then design specific therapies to help survivors heal. Personal strengths mixed with social factors greatly affect how each person recovers. Resilience is key, and it is a communal asset in overcoming life’s difficulties.

Additional Resources

Sutton, J, (2019). “What Is Post-Traumatic Growth? (+ PTG Inventory & Scale)”.  Positive Psychology.  Access here

Collier, L. (2016). “Growth after trauma”. APA.  Access here

Gills, K. (2024). “What Makes Us Resilient After Trauma?”. Psychology Today. Access here

“6 Essential Lessons from a Survivor: Building Resilience After Trauma”. Mind Resilient.  Access here

 

Neurobiology and Trauma

Posted on by Mark Moran

When a person is confronted with a life and death situation, the body responds with a fight, flight, or freeze response.  Other responses can include fawning, or complete total shutdown of the body.  These behavioral responses to stressors, life altering events, or trauma in forms of abuse or loss correlate with inner workings of the sympathetic nervous system which activates the body to respond.  While in the acute phase of reaction to threats, this evolutionary reaction system is good and beneficial but when trauma becomes stuck and unresolved resulting in constant hyperarousal or hypoarousal manifested in PTSD, then it can become pathological and require intense therapy to resolve the unresolved trauma.  This article will review the inner workings of trauma response within the brain and why unresolved trauma becomes an issue for some individuals.

The limbic system plays a key role in the brain in accessing threats and dealing with trauma, Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications, especially in Trauma Informed Care, Grief Counseling and Crisis Intervention

The Brain and Threat Reaction

All reactions within the body are due to stressors.  When something is perceived as a threat, the body responds.  This fear circuitry promotes safety and survival (Evans, 2014, p. 20).   The old part of the brain is the emotional part and possesses the feelings while the newer more evolved part of the brain processes the feelings from an intellectual perspective.  Both these processes interact in stress response over riding each other.  The primary reactions to stress include the autonomic nervous system which activates the sympathetic for fight or flight, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which releases hormones and cortisol for stress response and the limbic system of the brain which processes threats and emotions during a threat.

Evans notes that the fear response to threats is a crucial part of human survival and the process in which human beings react to fear in the brain is essential (2014, p. 21).  Unfortunately, some events are not processed properly in the moment due to extreme emotional imprinting and this leads to unresolved issues.

In any fear, terror, or stress moment, the brain analyzes the threat.   Within seconds, the sympathetic nervous system is activated to the perceived threat.  The body releases norepinephrine and epinephrine , also known as noradrenaline and adrenaline into the body.  The hypothalamus and pituitary gland also then releases cortisol into the body.  This increases blood flow and heart rate, tightens muscles and prepares the body for fight or flight.  In turn the amygdala processes these emotions and stores them.  While the amygdala is operating, the prefrontal cortex or thinking part of the brain is less active.  Once the threat is distinguished, the body is supposed to return to a base line state.  Evans refers to this process as fear extinction (2014, p., 21).  Individuals who continue to experience heightened fear responses when the threat is no longer an issue exist in a state of dysfunction with unresolved trauma since the brain cannot tell the difference between the memory and current non-threatening state.

Key to stress response are three key parts of the brain.  This includes the hippocampus, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex which make up the limbic system.  These three interplay with each other and are key to fear extinction, emotional regulation and cognitive reasoning (Evans, 2014, p. 22).  They also play a key role in storing memories from short term to long term storage and differentiating between past and present threats.  The hippocampus deals with memory and context.  It plays a key role in processing and storing memories and when the hippocampus is in dysfunction this can negatively effect trauma resolution. The amygdala during the stress response also becomes activated.   The amydala is the alarm system of the brain.  Those with PTSD are said to have a hyperactive amygdala due to unresolved trauma which prevents fear extinction (Evans, 2014, p.24).   The pre-frontal cortex which manages cognitive thought, emotional regulation and decision making.  It can also become impaired during trauma.  When not working, it can lead to subjective fears and lack of emotional regulation and loss of rationale.  Under normal circumstances, fear is extinguished and the body returns to a normal state via the hippocampus processing the context of here and then, the prefrontal cortex processing the event, and the amygdala activation decreasing.  In cases when trauma is unresolved, the hippocampus is unable to process the here and now, while the amygdala remains hyperactivated, preventing the prefrontal cortex from processing the event.  This hinders the ability of the hippocampus to store the memory properly in the past and the hyperactivation of the amygdala inhibits the prefrontal cortex from problem solving (Evans, 2014, p. 31-32).

Unresolved Trauma and PTSD

Individuals exposed to extreme cases of pain, loss, abuse, war, or inhumane treatment have the potential for PTSD.   Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is one of the most common forms of unresolved trauma disorders that individuals face.  Once considered only a war time disorder, it now can effect any trauma survivor of abuse, rape, or natural disaster.  Yet it is important to note that the same horrific event may be processed by some and not others. Most can process the traumatic event within 3 months, while others may experience prolonged trauma (Evans, 2014, p. 29).  Numerous subjective variables about the person’s genetics, brain structure, past trauma, resilient traits and social support all play roles why some persons process trauma without dysfunction and others do.  It is not a sign of weakness but merely an inability for a particular case and reason that the brain is unable to properly process the situation.  As seen above, this sometimes has much to do with the amygdala and the inability to  extinguish the fear.

While many only correlate PTSD with veterans it can also affect survivors of abuse or other traumatic experiences

Due to these issues, hyperarousal or hypoarousal can occur in those with PTSD.  This leads to re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance, as well as hyperarousal which can lead to hypervigilance (Evans, 2014.. p. 29). Those with PTSD are unable to regulate emotions when hyperarousal or hypoarousal occur.  To learn more about hyperarousal or hypoarousal and emotional regulation, please click here.  Whether hypoarousal and its symptoms of numbing, withdraw and dissociation, or hyperarousal and its symptoms of anxiety and hypervigilance, the brain is unable to differentiate the past trauma with current triggers.  This can cause flashbacks where the person loses contact with time, or location.  Only until the person learns grounding techniques and ways to regulate emotion can he/she find a window of tolerance to experience the event, process it, recreate new neuropathways associated with the memory, and store it long term without unresolved trauma symptoms.

Many counselors utilize exposure therapies such as EMDR, or cognitive therapies such as CBT to help clients and victims revisit and reframe the event in a healthy fashion and learn to process it as well as manage and regulate emotions that can be triggered due to the event.

Conclusion

The purpose of this short article was more so to understand the parts of the brain associated with the stress response and how the brain normally operates to better understand why when it does not operate correctly, one experiences unresolved trauma and PTSD.  An overactive amygdala and underactive prefrontal cortex play off each other and cause the inability for the body to continue the process of fear extinction.  This causes an inability of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to properly process, understand and store the memory.  While most resolve traumatic experiences within 3 months, some do not.  There are many subjective variables as to why one person and not another may experience unresolved trauma.  Trauma Informed Care specialists understand the neuroscience behind PTSD and help the client or victim find windows of tolerance and teach them emotional regulation and grounding techniques to heal from cope as well as heal from past trauma.

Please also review AIHCP’s many healthcare certification programs and see if they meet your academic and professional goals

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program as well as its many healthcare certification programs.

Reference

Evans, A. & Coccoma, P. (2014).”Trauma Informed Care: How Neuroscience Influences Practice”. Routledge.

Additional Resources

“The Neurobiology of Trauma: Understanding the Brain’s Response to Adverse Experiences 2025”. Kaplan Therapy.  Access here

“How the Brain Reacts to Stress and Trauma” Science News Today.  Access here

Kubala, K. (2021). “The Science Behind PTSD Symptoms: How Trauma Changes the Brain”. PsychCentral.  Access here

“Trauma and the Brain: PTSD Brain Diagrams Explained” (2024). NeuroLaunch. Access here

 

 

 

Signs of Trauma and Abuse Video Blog

Posted on by Mark Moran

It is imperative within trauma informed care to be aware of and looking for signs of trauma or abuse in clients.  This video looks at some signs of abuse and trauma.  Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program, as well as its Crisis Intervention program and Grief Counseling program.  AIHCP offers a variety of healthcare certification programs. Please click here

Trauma and Counseling Video Blog

Posted on by Mark Moran

Trauma informed care specialists in counseling are aware of the existence of trauma in clients.  Sometimes, trauma emerges in counseling.  How the counselor or social worker presents oneself is key in helping the victim/survivor feel secure and safe in discussing it.  In some cases, counselors may need to help the person ground oneself due to the increase of anxiety and panic when trauma emerges. This video looks at trauma and how to help clients who need help regulating emotion due to unresolved trauma

Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program as well as all of AIHCP’s healthcare certifications.