Generally in the 21st Century we over use the word “trauma”, but whenever we face a sudden and catastrophic change in any life situation, where there is real threat to our life or others, and where we observe the injury, death or dying of others, we are indeed facing what is correctly called “trauma”. Rhinocephalon – smell brain response.

When a real trauma occurs our Primal Mid-Brain kicks into gear to help us cope. It directly fires our Adrenals, and we go into the Fight-Flight-Freeze-Float reaction that is designed to assist us escape and cope with the situation we are facing. It will seriously pump the powerful chemicals of the Stress reaction, and it genuinely thinks it is helping, but often these chemicals complicate our response, and later, unless they are moderated by learned tricks and tools, they can slow our recovery and return to full life.

Our ancestors learned to cope with trauma as they grew up, because it was part of their expected and “normal” life experience, but in the West we have had several generations of peace and plenty, and so trauma has become “exceptional” and its reactions unexpected by most, and often overwhelming.

When facing genuine trauma, without our military or ancestral coping tools already in place, we are best to approach the aftermath in a structured way, that helps our coping, and gives a sense of “mastery” to us. Often the apparently “inappropriate” reactions will be most helpful. CBT-PLUS with Relaxation and Serotonin Boosting, because our emotional responses to trauma cannot be trusted as useful or safe.

First understand the Primal/Mid-Brain function

It is pumping adrenalin and cortisol to help us cope, but unregulated these chemicals can debilitate us. It thinks it’s helping – doesn’t hear words. Correctly labelling our bodily and cognitive-emotive responses starts to give us some mastery, and to that we add the coping tools to moderate the Primal Response. Always work on paper with a pen = object to PB. (Christchurch Engineers experience in my work there for three years). Challenge emotion with bio-chem actions.

Secondly, we identify any compounding factors to the trauma situation

Any pre-existing depression or anxiety will mean our system will “hyper-react” as it already feels overloaded and will hyper-compensate. (Piper Alpha Study). Medication will need to be reviewed to ensure the system is settled before we can build in the coping tools. Is there blame or guilt felt? (It may be real or imagined – but it will complicate our processing until acknowledged and worked through). Visual and olfactory flash-backs to the event are the system’s way of trying to make sense of things, and the early onset of such symptoms are a good sign. Denial is our main enemy in real trauma, as delaying coping compounds effect. Were we active or passive in the situation? (All sense of “doing something to help” mediates the trauma impact). We need to feel we are “doing something” now to build coping power. If we were physically injured the Mid-Brain will stop other symptoms emerging until we are physically healed – it is a survival response remember! (Oklahoma Bombing Study). We must “con” our PB to feel we are doing better than it fears we are.

Thirdly, we build tools/tricks into our daily life to send the message of strength-power-relaxation-coping to the Primal Brain

It doesn’t hear words, so muscle relaxation is key to coping, and only when the Adrenals are moderated do we add in verbal techniques – journaling and CBT-PLUS. Sports Psychology “Mental Skills” techniques are the most effective to be used, as they fuze the physical relaxation and the cognitive-emotional response, and anchor us in the truth about what we have been through – both parts of brain are then challenged and “educated” with reactive emotions shifted into more productive channels.

General Principles; Affirm knowledge of the stress reaction, challenge initial emotional responses, build physiological relaxation response and strength message in Primal Brain, tell our self the truth (CBT-PLUS).

Individual targeting of tools to assist maybe required, especially if there was any compounding factor beforehand, or in the experience of the trauma event. Listen to your specialist’s advice and action!