Sublime

So, now we have moved from thinking about one form of trauma to four. Trauma might be: Intrusive and disempowering, e.g., being sworn at or beaten Intrusive and falsely empowering, e.g., incest, emotional caretaking (regulating a parent) Abandoning and disempowering, e.g., “you’re unworthy,” scapegoating Abandoning and falsely empowering, e.g.,

The victim compels others to come to his rescue or to behave as he wishes by holding them hostage to the prospect of his own further illness/meltdown/mental dissolution,

Any of us, when our particular place of insecurity or woundedness is touched, easily regress into the fullness of trance. At these times there seems to be no choice as to what we feel, think, say or do. Rather, we “go on automatic,” reacting in our most habitual way to defend ourselves, to cover over the rawness of our hurt.

In 2002 Ronnie Janoff-Bulman wrote an influential book on trauma entitled Shattered Assumptions. That title captures a lot about the nature of trauma. Trauma shatters you, but not in the places you’d expect. It rips the rug out from beneath you; it rips out the very floor beneath your feet.

Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms our ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, changes our sense of self, and diminishes our ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences.