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Archive for trauma

Vicarious trauma: When we feel the pain of someone else’s trauma

May 21, 2020

Being on the front line in times of crisis can be difficult and draining. For those in helping fields, these kinds of crises can be an everyday experience. When does it become too much to carry? How do we know when the stress goes from what’s expected from the work we do to something that is significantly impacting our lives? If this feels familiar, you may be experiencing vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue.

During this time when the world is experiencing a health crisis, is it possible to feel someone else’s trauma from the news stories we see?

What is vicarious trauma?

Vicarious trauma can be described as the direct or indirect exposure to someone else’s trauma that impacts one’s own physical and/or psychological well-being. This is also known as compassion fatigue or secondary trauma. Those who are in a helping or rescuing role are at risk for experiencing vicarious trauma. You may be thinking this sounds like burnout, but burnout can be described as workplace stress that impacts one’s physical or psychological well-being. The important difference here is that, unlike burnout, compassion fatigue involves being exposed to someone else’s trauma. In being exposed to someone else’s trauma, your life can be negatively impacted by what you’ve seen or heard in those helping or rescuing experiences.

Signs of compassion fatigue

We can start to understand whether our experience is workplace burnout or vicarious trauma by being aware of how we think, feel, and behave in our everyday life. There are multiple signs of dealing with compassion fatigue. These include, but are not limited to:

Physical exhaustion
Mental and emotional exhaustion
Insomnia
Nightmares
Use of or dependence on alcohol, drugs, or addictive behaviors
Lack of ability to empathize with others
Workaholism
Hyper-vigilance (constantly being worried about the safety of yourself and others)
Cynicism (a belief that everyone is acting out of self-interest and outlook of the world is bleak)
Anxiety (often feeling nervous, scared, or constantly thinking of things that could go wrong)
Depression (feeling numb, unmotivated, and exhausted)
Anger (getting easily angry to a degree that is inappropriate to the situation)

What if this is you?

Experiencing vicarious trauma can take a toll on your overall well-being, but there are things you can do to prevent and cope with it.

Contact Fuller Life Family Therapy

Here at Fuller Life Family Therapy, we have a group of trained professionals who can help individuals who are dealing with vicarious trauma. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please email us at info@fullerlifefamilytherapy.org or call our main number (855) 245-5433.

Resources

Good Therapy – Vicarious trauma

Psychology Today – Vicarious trauma and the professional interpreter

Psychology Today – When vicarious trauma victims suffer from PTSD

Psychology Today – Trauma workers at risk for compassion fatigue

Contributed by Lindsay Perry, LPC Intern

Clinical supervision by Amy Fuller, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC-S

Categories : Counseling, Mental Health, Self-Awareness, Sticky, Trauma and Loss

Tags : mental health, self-awareness, trauma

The unexpected reality of intimate partner violence

Posted by Terry Hoisington on

February 16, 2020

· 2 Comments

Sometimes relationships are surprising – and perplexing. What begins as an ideal match in the eyes of others, can be a disappointing world of nightmares.

When this relationship with an intimate partner appears different in public than it is in private, it may be time to examine the direction that the relationship is growing into.

How do you know when it is time to examine your relationship? One red flag is when the “ideal” relationship only exists in public. Sometimes, the private relationship is very different than the one shown to others.

Is there reason for discomfort?

If examining the relationship brings definite feelings of discomfort, there may be valid reasons for that feeling. Consider the following points.

Does your partner:

try to control what you are doing, check your phone, e-mail or social media without your permission?
force you to have sex when you don’t want to?
attempt to control your birth control or perhaps insist that you become pregnant before you are ready?
decide what you wear or eat?
decide or how you spend money?
humiliate you in front of others?
prevent or discourage you from seeing or visiting with friends, or family.
unfairly accused you of being unfaithful?

If you can answer yes to any one of these questions, you are likely experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence (IPV).

IPV is sometimes difficult to identify. Many people have a reaction of “Whoa, not me, my husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend loves me.” Love is not just about romance though. It is about respect, and respect has no room for violence in any form.

IPV is about control and abuse in any part of a person’s life. This control or abuse may be experienced in social activity, finances, religion and even sexual activity. What is helpful to understand is that IPV is very subtle and progresses over time.

What is Intimate Partner Violence?

Society tends to think of violence as being solely physical abuse. However, emotional abuse can be just as, or even more, damaging. IPV is a physical episode of being hit, beat, or pushed. It may be a situation of being blamed for a partner’s violent outbursts. It is important to realize that IPV is not limited to physical violence. Statements such as “If I can’t have you, then no one can” also qualifies as IPV. Verbal insults, humiliation and put-downs are also forms of IPV. It can also involve hurting or threatening someone’s children or pets.

As defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Intimate Partner Violence is

“…violence or aggression that can vary in frequency and severity and occurs on a continuum ranging from one episode that might or might not have lasting impact, to chronic and severe episodes lasting over a period of years.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that IPV can be four types of behavior:

Physical violence is when a person hurts or even tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking or using any other type of physical force
Sexual violence is forcing or trying to force a partner to take part in a sex act, touching or sexting when a partner does not or cannot consent
Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention/contact by that causes fear or concern for safety of self or someone close to the victim
Psychological/emotional abuse occurs when a person is verbally humiliated, shamed, controlled or isolated from family or friends

What is emotional abuse?

Emotional abuse often leads to any one of the other three types of IPV. It is far more subtle and less talked about since it leaves no scars on the outside. Emotional abuse can be just as damaging. Katie Ray-Jones, president of the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) stated in an interview with Cosmopolitan.com that one woman told her…

“I can still hear his voice in my head. Even though I’ve been out of the relationship for three years, I still feel like I’m sitting there.”

Another individual relayed a similar experience indicating that trauma from emotional abuse was evidenced 10 years after the event.

In many cases, the victim’s confidence, self-esteem and perception of their world are slowly undermined by the partner’s need to dominate or control. Counseling psychologist, Carmel O’Brien, Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society, says

“…what comes across again and again is that there’s someone in the relationship who thinks that their views are more important, their needs have to come first, and they basically should be making the decisions and the other person should be toeing the line.”

How does IPV impact its victim?

IPV does not discriminate! It can happen to anyone, anywhere, regardless of gender or sexual preference, economic status, religious, ethnic or cultural group. In whatever form it takes, IPV is never OK, and can result in consequences such as, but not limited to

poor physical health
depression and/or anxiety
trauma or posttraumatic stress
feelings of guilt or shame
low self-esteem or self-harm
an inability to trust others

It is important to understand what IPV looks and feels like. Resources are available to find help when discomfort in a relationship occurs. If you or a person you know is involved in Intimate Partner Violence, please reach out for help. A few resources, both national and local, can be found below.

Resources to find help

The resources below are good places to start reaching out for help or to receive guidance:

National Domestic Hotline – call 1-800-799-7233 or use the secure online chat in English or Spanish
ACF’s (Administration for Children & Families) Family Violence Prevention and Services Program administers the primary federal funding stream dedicated to the support of emergency shelter and related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: State Coalition List provides a directory of state offices that can help you find local support, shelter, and free or low-cost legal services. This includes all U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Find help in the Houston area:

Bridge Over Troubled Waters (713)473-2801 in Pasadena, Texas – Provides residential shelter in a family atmosphere for women & children in crisis, as well as counseling and educational services
Family Time Crisis and Counseling Center (281)446-2615 in Tomball/Humble, Texas
Houston Area Women’s Center (713)528-2121 is a Hotline
Houston Area Women’s Center
Domestic Violence Hotline: (713)528-2121, Rape Crisis Hotline: (713)528-7273
The Montrose Center (713)529-0037 on 701 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas77006 – Population: Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual and Transgender survivors of domestic violence can call the Gay & Lesbian Switchboard (713)529-3211
The Montrose Counseling Center provides around the clock, scattered site emergency shelter for LGBT survivors of domestic violence, as well as transitional housing. Advocacy & counseling services also are available.
Bay Area Turning Point Webster, Texas(281)286-2525 – Provides emergency shelter for battered women and children
Fort Bend Women’s Center located in Richmond, Texas, (281)342-4357 Provides safe shelter for battered women and children (under 18 years of age). Counseling and referrals provided to shelter residents.
Houston Volunteer Lawyers (713)228-0732 Provides pro-bono civil legal services, including family law, for low-income residents of Harris County who meet eligibility requirements.
Legal Line (713)759-1133

Contributed by:

Terry Hoisington, LPC-Intern

Under Supervision of Amy Fuller PhD, LPC-S

Categories : Boundaries, Counseling, Couples, Domestic Violence, Marriage, Relationships, Trauma and Loss

Tags : abuse, boundaries, couples, Domestic Violence, intimate partner violence, trauma

The Body and Trauma: From Frozen to Fully Living

Posted by Tamara Tatum on

July 27, 2017

· No Comments

An Impala and A Cheetah

Imagine yourself as an impala grazing along a lush plain. You hear rustling in a nearby brush. Your body tenses and your senses become alert. You see nothing and then suddenly, out of the brush, a cheetah lunges. You begin running as fast as possible, about seventy miles per hour. The cheetah begins closing in. Finally, he pounces and makes contact. Your body freezes. You collapse and appear immobile, though on the inside, energy is coursing through your body still at seventy miles per hour (adapted from Levine, 1997).

After an overwhelming situation has occurred, it is not uncommon for our bodies to react as though the stress is still present – feeling agitated, shaky, breathing heavily, etc. In most circumstances, our bodies are able to relax and return to a normal state after a relatively brief period of time. Unfortunately, this is often not the case for people who have endured trauma.

The Experience of Trauma

While traumatic experiences vary along a wide spectrum, a common thread can be found in its expression. Experiencing fight, flight or freeze responses are our bodies natural and good reactions to stressful and scary circumstances. However, for some of those who have experienced trauma, the brain keeps telling the body to escape a threat that no longer exists (Van Der Kolk, 2014). Many people who have experienced trauma live as though they have been imprisoned by fear and are unable to re-engage in present life (Levine, 1997).

In his book, Waking the Tiger, Levine describes post-traumatic stress disorder as, “incomplete physiological responses suspended in fear.” Going back to your experience as an impala, your body froze when the cheetah finally pounced. Yet, there was heightened energy from the terrifying chase that remained stuck inside your immobile body. A similar thing happens for those who have post-traumatic stress disorder. The body remains hypervigilant, prepared to be assaulted or violated again, and the survivor’s energy now becomes focused on suppressing this inner chaos (Van Der Kolk, 2014). This suppression has been shown to take a toll on the body and can lead to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and autoimmune disorders (Van Der Kolk, 2014).

Healing the Body, Mind and Spirit

In order to experience healing, the body needs to learn that the danger has passed and begin living fully in the present (Van Der Kolk, 2014). It is not enough to tell and re-tell the story of the trauma. Change needs to happen at the physical level as well (Van der Kolk, 2014). According to Levine (1997), trauma survivors need to pass through the state of immobility and liberate the suppressed energy.

Reconnecting mind, body and spirit is an important step to recovering from trauma. “Trauma robs you of the feeling that you are in charge of yourself…. The challenge of recovery is to reestablish ownership of your body and your mind – of your self” (Van Der Kolk, 2014).

A Few Exercises

The following exercise by Peter Levine (1997) is to welcome your mind and spirit back to your body:

For ten minutes each day, take a gentle, pulsing shower in the following way: at a cool or slightly warm temperature setting, expose your entire body to the pulsing water, one part at a time.

Put your full awareness into the region of your body where the rhythmical stimulation is focused. Let your consciousness move to each part of your body as you rotate. Hold the backs of your hands to the shower head; then the palms and wrists; then both sides of your face, shoulders, underarms, etc. Be sure to include every part of your body. Pay attention to the sensation in each area, even if it feels blank, numb, or painful. While you are doing this say, “This is my head. This is my neck. This is my hand.” etc. “I welcome you back.”

Below is an exercise by Levine (1997) designed to begin accessing the body’s natural wisdom:

As you read this, make yourself as comfortable as possible. Feel the way your body makes contact with the surface that is supporting you.

Sense into your skin and notice the way your clothes feel.

Sense underneath your skin – what sensations are there?

Now, gently remembering these sensations, how do you know that you feel comfortable?

What physical sensations contribute to the overall feeling of comfort?

Does becoming more aware of these sensations make you feel more or less comfortable?

Does this change over time?

Sit for a moment and enjoy the felt sense of feeling comfortable!

Using these exercises can help you to become more grounded and connected to your body.

For other body-oriented therapeutic trauma treatments, read this blog from our archives. At Fuller Life Family Therapy, we offer trauma-informed care to help you move from frozen in a traumatic past to living fully in the present.

Resources

https://fullerlifefamilytherapy.org/yoga-and-trauma/

Levine, P. (1997). Waking the Tiger.

Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score.

Contributed by

Tamara Tatum, LMFT-Associate

Supervised by Amy Fuller, PhD, LMFT-S

Categories : Self-Care Practices, Trauma and Loss

Tags : body, body-oriented therapy, trauma

Trauma and the Body

Posted by JenniferChristian on

August 30, 2013

Photography: Solitude by Jeremy Hockin

Many people suffer from either physical or emotional wounds that remain from a previous traumatic experience, and sometimes both. Trauma is defined as a serious injury or shock to the body, as from violence or an accident, or an event or situation that causes great distress and disruption. A traumatic experience can hijack the body and break down the connection between mind and body. We may not be able to connect rationally or articulate what we feel. In a recent interview Bessel van der Kolk, trauma expert at the Boston University School of Medicine explained,

“It’s amazing to me what a hard time many people I know have with (articulating what happened). This is not about something you think or something you figure out. This is about your body, your organism, having been reset to interpret the world as a terrifying place and yourself as being unsafe. And it has nothing to do with cognition. You can say to people, ‘You shouldn’t feel that way’ or ‘You’re not a bad person’ or ‘It wasn’t your fault.’ And people say, ‘I know that, but I feel that it is.'”

The body is designed to heal itself, and the brain’s job is to take care of the body. This is good news for many who struggle daily with the effects of trauma. Through compassionate and gentle practices we can once again embody our bodies. “Unless you befriend your body, you cannot become well.” (Bessel van der Kolk) One’s healing journey can begin with the aid of a compassionate therapist partnered with “somatic experiecing,” (explained below) such as yoga.

Therapeutic Trauma Treatments

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): According to Dr. Amy Fuller, EMDR is “a revolutionary therapy that has helped millions let go of painful experiences, memories, or beliefs. By utilizing the brain’s natural healing processes, EMDR therapy quickly heals many emotional problems and conditions which have been difficult and time consuming to treat in the past.”
Compassion Focused Therapy: “Helps people who have undergone a traumatic experience to develop compassion for themselves and others, a sense of safety, and the ability to self-soothe when difficult memories or emotions arise.” (Lee James, and Gilbert)
Somatic Experiencing: “Somatic experiencing takes advantage of the body’s unique ability to heal itself. The focus of therapy is on bodily sensations, rather than thoughts and memories about the traumatic event. By concentrating on what’s happening in your body, you gradually get in touch with trauma-related energy and tension. From there, your natural survival instincts take over, safely releasing this pent-up energy through shaking, crying, and other forms of physical release.” (Robinson, Smith, and Segal)
Van der Kolk also suggests exploring techniques such as Rolfing, Craniosacral therapy, and Feldenkrais that “help people really feel their body, experience their body, and open up to their bodies.“

Healing Yoga for Trauma

Simple, gentle yoga therapy practice for releasing trauma.

Healing Trauma Resources

Deborah A. Lee, Sophie James, Paul Gilbert: The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Recovering from Trauma and PTSD: Using Compassion-Focused Therapy to Overcome Flashbacks, Shame, Guilt, and Fear

Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal: Emotional and Psychological Trauma

Denise Kersten Wills, Healing Life’s Traumas

Restoring the Body: Bessel van der Kolk on Yoga, EMDR, and Treating Trauma

Contributed by:

Jennifer Christian, M.A., LPC

Categories : Anxiety & Panic, Compassion, Counseling, Grief, Self-Care Practices, Sticky, The Human Brain, Trauma and Loss

Tags : anxiety, compassion, grief, loss, panic, self-care, trauma

Archive for trauma

Vicarious trauma: When we feel the pain of someone else’s trauma

What is vicarious trauma?

Signs of compassion fatigue

What if this is you?

Contact Fuller Life Family Therapy

The unexpected reality of intimate partner violence

Is there reason for discomfort?

What is Intimate Partner Violence?

What is emotional abuse?

How does IPV impact its victim?

Resources to find help

Find help in the Houston area:

The Body and Trauma: From Frozen to Fully Living

An Impala and A Cheetah

The Experience of Trauma

Healing the Body, Mind and Spirit

A Few Exercises

Trauma and the Body

Healing Yoga for Trauma

FULLER LIFE LOOP

4545 Bissonet, Suite 289, Bellaire, Texas 77401

FULLER LIFE WEST

10333 Harwin Drive Suite 375D Houston TX 77036

Call Us:(855) 245-5433

HIPAA-Compliant Fax: (832) 706-3842
info@ FullerLifeFamilyTherapy.org

CALL TODAY!

(855) 245-5433

Complete our Secure Inquiry Form:

Archive for trauma

Vicarious trauma: When we feel the pain of someone else’s trauma

What is vicarious trauma?

Signs of compassion fatigue

What if this is you?

Contact Fuller Life Family Therapy

The unexpected reality of intimate partner violence

Is there reason for discomfort?

What is Intimate Partner Violence?

What is emotional abuse?

How does IPV impact its victim?

Resources to find help

Find help in the Houston area:

The Body and Trauma: From Frozen to Fully Living

An Impala and A Cheetah

The Experience of Trauma

Healing the Body, Mind and Spirit

A Few Exercises

Trauma and the Body

Healing Yoga for Trauma

FULLER LIFE LOOP

4545 Bissonet, Suite 289, Bellaire, Texas 77401

FULLER LIFE WEST

10333 Harwin Drive Suite 375D Houston TX 77036

Call Us:(855) 245-5433

HIPAA-Compliant Fax: (832) 706-3842 info@ FullerLifeFamilyTherapy.org

CALL TODAY!

(855) 245-5433

Complete our Secure Inquiry Form:

Tags

HIPAA-Compliant Fax: (832) 706-3842
info@ FullerLifeFamilyTherapy.org