AM I SUFFERING Trauma? Often when we think of trauma we think in the context of something "bad" that has happened to us and our struggle over time to work through it. But, what happens when we are daily experiencing trauma? Our lives have changed considerably since March of 2020. While mask wearing, social distancing, and sanitization has become our "new normal" (physically), we cannot underestimate the impact these changes have had on our mental health as well. We all experience trauma in different ways. While some individuals will typically resolve trauma after an impacting "event", others may struggle significantly and begin to develop long-term effects of trauma that may may develop into PTSD. In Chapter 3 of Understanding the Impact of Trauma written by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) it states, "How an event affects an individual depends on many factors, including characteristics of the individual, the type and characteristics of the event(s), developmental processes, the meaning of the trauma, and sociocultural factors" (SAMHSA, 2014). What particularly stands out in this definition right now is "the characteristics of the event". While some traumatic events occur and end, we currently are living in a traumatic situation that has not yet ended. We wake up to it everyday. What does this mean for us and the way our body responds to stressful events? It means that we can experience increased levels of anxiety, depression, and a state of dissociation and unrest that simply lingers. One of the most common statements I hear right now is, "I don't know what I am feeling and I don't know what is going on with me". There seems to be such an elevated sense of uneasiness that is not quite able to completely resolve.
True, we have physically adjusted to our new environment, but our bodies are experiencing less stimulation due to decreased touch, hugs, connection, intimacy. Lack of connection for long periods of time can affect even the strongest of us. It is no wonder why many people who have never experienced anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, and severe depression are baffled by the intense impact these symptoms can have on our well-being. While our tolerance of masks and societal adjustments have become largely adaptable. It is not as easy to calm the "powerful mind" and subsequently our physical, mental, spiritual, and social health suffers in more ways than we immediately recognize. So, what can we do? #1-Make a Plan: Identify what you have lost and determine what you think you need/want or have been lacking during this time. Sometimes, we just need to honestly acknowledge where we are at so we can begin to deal with it honestly and process our emotional grief. #2-Re-Establish Connection: Self-care may have previously been that thing that was negotiable but no longer optional. Whether you are taking scheduled moments throughout the day to just do some deep breathing, positive selftalk, or taking time to do something for 32 INSESSION APRIL 2021
