Trauma has an emotional and physical effect on the victim. But why do they lose self-awareness? Find out here.
Trauma has the potential to take over the brain. in fact, After the horror of the situation experienced by trauma patients, their bodies cease to belong to them.In effect, they experience a loss of bodily self-awarenessAs a result, their bodies activate at the slightest sign of danger. Physical symptoms carry over, making it impossible to “be yourself.”
Many brain regions are involved in this “body takeover”. but, The most important is probably the amygdalaThis structure is common to all mammals. It’s a region that allows us to feel and, above all, survive.
“Trauma makes you feel disconnected from your body, other people and the world. Healing involves reconnecting those parts.”
-Bessel van der Cork-
corpse kidnapping
If an individual perceives a potentially life-threatening danger, it is done in a matter of seconds. their brain Employ a fight, flight, or freeze response.in fact they lack Ability to assess and interpret situations as truly dangerous or harmless.
This occurs in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result of the pain, anger, helplessness, and fear experienced by the individual, stimuli that occur during the traumatic event become associated with feelings of fear.
This explains how survivors of traumatic events can be frightened by many different stimuli that do not tend to provoke fear in the general public. For example, Mark, a survivor of the war in Iran, panics whenever he hears the sound of fan blades. This is to remind him of the blade movement of the combat helicopter that killed all his companions.
This means that even the most trivial and harmless stimulus can seize and “kidnap” an individual. They experience symptoms such as tachycardia and panic attacks. They also feel fear, anguish, and anxiety. in fact, It becomes a cocktail that numbs them. The region responsible for this hijacking is the amygdala.
“The body is the foundation of Self And those who ignore bodily experience have dire consequences for treatment. “
-Bessel van der Cork-
Self-Awareness: The Key to Recovery from PTSD
On the other hand, the amygdala It is responsible for capturing individuals and dragging them into a chaotic and brooding world of emotions. The medial prefrontal cortex contributes to reason. In fact, it is the seat of self-awareness (Van der Kolk, 2020).
Self-awareness is knowing what is happening in your body. It’s a sense of interception. Van der Kolk is one of the world’s most famous psychiatrists when it comes to trauma. He argues that in treating PTSD, one must ask his two questions:
- what do you experience?
- What happens after that?
Traumatized people go through life with burning emotions. In addition, they often physically experience frustration, anger, fear, or anguish.they I often experience these sensations in my chest and stomach.
“Body self-awareness connects us with our inner world; our organic landscape.
-Bessel van der Cork-
Loss of self-awareness and fear of emotions
Avoiding contact with these emotions is counterproductive. However, two questions suggested by Van der Kolk allow individuals to connect with their emotions. As a result, this promotes rather than diminishes self-awareness.
PTSD is seen as “antagonist and rival.” That said, it’s not an aggressor per se. Body sensations and emotions experienced by an individual. van der cork says: “Fear of being taken over by unpleasant sensations freezes the body and closes the mind.” For this reason, it is imperative that patients change the way they relate to themselves and their bodies.
Anyone who participates in therapy should be aware that both their emotions and bodily sensations have definite beginnings and ends. in fact, Recognizing this ‘impermanence’ can be an effective strategy for coping with the negative effects of anxiety and fear..
name the emotion
The next step is to label, name, and assign descriptions to individual emotions. As such, the victim must give their feelings a narrative meaning. This activates the medial prefrontal cortex rather than overactivating the amygdala. Use reason to balance your emotions.
After a traumatic event, there may be numerous stimuli that remain associated with the “danger” message. In the months to come, these stimuli could unleash emotional waves that numb trauma victims. It happens to “kidnap”.
But the stimuli associated with trauma back then are harmless today. Yet they continue to “kidnap” victims. For this reason, patients need to develop self-awareness. Its purpose is to reduce aversion to stimuli and promote more friendly responses.
“Focus on that sensation and see how it changes when you take a deep breath, tap your chest just below your collarbone, or cry.”
-Bessel van der Cork-
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