What is Trauma Informed-It’s Complicated

I am an interested in having a conversation about trauma informed approaches, modalities, and practices in the industries of mental health, wellness, and other adjacent fields. Being a part of the incredible international peer support community, I’ve had the immense privilege of learning, sharing, and contributing to the dialogue around Trauma-Informed approaches. It’s been a journey of education, both receiving and giving, and a chance to be part of organizations that wear the “Trauma-Informed” badge with pride—sometimes rightfully, sometimes not so much. Through my experiences, I’ve come to realize that being Trauma-Informed cannot be just a label; it’s about genuine understanding, empathy, and action. So, why this post? Well, it’s my way of shining a light on the concerns and successes contributing to the ongoing narrative about the state of research on trauma. Let’s talk about what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can continue supporting one another on this path of healing and understanding. 🌈🌻

What We Are Understanding by Studying Trauma

Veterans Study: Trauma can physically alter our brains, not due to physical injury, but through a rewiring process ¹. These changes occur in individuals with and without psychopathologies, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. People exposed to trauma without psychopathologies compensate for these changes by engaging the executive control network ¹.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): ACEs are significant factors in depression and cognitive decline. A systematic review found that neuropsychological scores in individuals with trauma histories and any psychiatric diagnosis ranged from low to high average. Recent research suggests that ACEs negatively impact cognitive function, with depression mediating this relationship.
Marginalized Communities: Systematic trauma refers to the traumatic experiences faced by marginalized groups due to systemic oppression and discrimination. Studies suggest that a history of traumatic events can lead to a proliferation of discrimination stressors and threat appraisals, which predict psychological distress. Trauma-informed approaches need to consider the unique social context of various socially marginalized groups.

4. Intergenerational Trauma: This type of trauma occurs when the traumatic effects are passed across generations without exposure to the original event². The field is developing and often examined as part of research into historical trauma ². Preliminary studies have focused on Holocaust Survivors and their offspring, with more recent research examining the intergenerational effects of the residential school system on Indigenous people and communities across Canada².

5. Trauma and Mental Illness: Trauma refers to events, experiences, and their effects upon individuals. It can contribute to caregivers demonstrating inconsistent affective responses to their children, leading to dissociative, mood, and behaviour symptoms in the next generation. Trauma is linked to the development and severity of mental illness across the lifespan.

Problems with Trauma Research

Most early research on trauma and PTSD focused on male samples ⁵. The majority of these studies examined factors related to how male combat Veterans responded to war-related trauma ⁵. Around the same time, researchers who studied women’s experiences of sexual assault identified a syndrome that was similar to that experienced by combat-exposed men ⁵. This recognition led to an increase in research on women’s experiences of traumatic events and risk for PTSD ⁵ ⁶. However, the research that was done on adverse childhood experiences was based off of research done primarily on affluent white women ⁵ ⁶. This has led to a lack of clear evidence on the best therapies for people with complex trauma ⁷. Further in-depth research is warranted for the most promising ⁷. There are several emerging treatment options for people of colour experiencing racial trauma ⁸. However, given the scarcity of literature, we need more studies to establish the validity and efficacy of available assessment and treatment options ⁸.

The Challenges Around Diagnosing and Treating Trauma

Systemic Trauma’s Effects: Systemic trauma, experienced by marginalized groups due to systemic oppression and discrimination, can have long-lasting effects on physical and mental well-being. The body’s stress response system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, becomes more reactive to stress, increasing the stress hormone cortisol.
Cost of Treatment: Treating trauma can be costly. Prescription drugs are the second biggest cost to the Canadian healthcare system, at $39.8 billion in 2018, just behind hospitals. Drug prices in Canada are now the third highest among the OECD countries.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Costs: DBT is a therapy that helps people learn and use new skills and strategies to build lives they feel are worth living. However, the cost of DBT can be high, with the cost for advanced DBT 12 sessions at $999.00 and $1,800.00 for 24 sessions.
Implications of the System: The system that causes trauma and then charges for treatment has multifaceted implications. It places a financial burden on individuals already dealing with the psychological and physiological effects of trauma. It also raises questions about the accessibility and affordability of mental health care, particularly for marginalized communities who may be disproportionately affected by systemic trauma.

Concerns in the Trauma World

Lack of Oversight: There is no oversight for any trauma-informed modality. They are based in some questionable science ¹.
Covering Up Systematic Issues: Trauma-informed approaches can cover up systematic issues and paint places where people who have experienced trauma are still not seen or treated appropriately ³ ⁴. Yet because people took trauma informed “fill in the blank,” the space is now being called trauma informed ³ ⁴.

So, that’s the scoop on trauma, mental health, and the very brief overview of trauma informed approaches, modalities, and practices in the industries of mental health, wellness, and other fields—our chat’s wrapping up, folks! Thank you for being open to explore this topic and diving into this journey with me. Let’s keep the conversation going, whether it’s over a cup of coffee or through the digital waves. Take care of yourselves, keep the vibes real, and I’ll see you in the next slide! 🌻🌟

Citations ⁸ Intersection of Racism and PTSD: Assessment and Treatment of Racial Stress and Trauma – Springer ⁵ Research on Women, Trauma and PTSD – PTSD: National Center for PTSD ⁶ Higher stress among minority and low-income populations can lead to health disparities – APA ⁷ Mental health problems in complex trauma: the most promising therapies are identified in a new review – NIHR ² New study explores the influence of complex trauma on mental health and cognitive function – KCL ³ Adverse childhood experiences: What we know, what we don’t know, and what should happen next – EIF ¹ InBrief: The Impact of Early Adversity on Children’s Development – Harvard Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – Public Health Ontario Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Strategy – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2021 Year in Review of Trauma and PTSD Research – Psychology Today Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Costs – DBT Systemic Trauma’s Effects – Trauma and Recovery Lack of Oversight – Oversight and Government Reform Trauma and Mental Illness – Mental Health and Trauma Cost of Treatment – Canadian Institute for Health Information

October 10, 2023January 15, 2024

Black Sheep Can Upgrade To Spicy Unicorn: Embracing Your Unique Journey

Most of us are a wee bit odd, we roam to the beat of our own songs, some of our beats more distinct than others. We may have given ourselves the “Black Sheep” label, it may have been an honorary title, it may have been given without permission. It has happened, we have found ourselves here, not knowing what to do with our rank of oddity. There are a number of options available to us, one is complain about the situation, blame “others” about the situation, avoid the situation, conform as best as possible, or embrace it (unless you are an asshole, then this advice sucks.) Well it is not advice anyway, it is how I use my trauma recovery to guide me forward. Sometimes I am a battle unicorn, who is effective, but very lonely, sometimes I am a community unicorn full of fun and support. When I am in my full self, I am happy being all of my pieces.

Our unique sense of what is me, myself and I developed in relation to our early support systems. Some support systems are equipped with love and secure boundaries that allow us to safely mature. These are skills that kin groups learn and teach their children, who in turn, pass it on to theirs. A better skill tool box than others. Many families have instead generations of abuse, neglect, poverty. The skills that are passed down in these kin groups are survival based. Fight or flight all of the time, even when it is no longer a need, just a frustratingly tragic inheritance.

When we are blamed for problems in the family, we are taught that we bear responsibility for other people’s happiness. We eat sins. We look for ways to carry the weight of our people’s happiness. Some of us devote our lives to achieving and improving, in the hopes to deserve affection. Some of us give up, hide, wilt away, waiting for someone to seek us. Some of us numb ourselves with addiction or distraction. Some of us try it all. Regardless of what we do, it is not until we give up responsibility for other’s happiness, that we can heal.

This usually occurs when we had uncommon life experiences when we were young. Our perspective was shaped by something that most people outside our immediate family do not get to experience. This can leave us feeling isolated, even within our family. When this happens we can feel like

I have been the black sheep, I have had no choice, time and tide created the “other” in me. These forces have created this in all of us. Most of us eagerly share our unique selves with the world. Some of us are weighed down by the fear of reaction to our “other,” encumbered by pain and uncertainty. We make our way in the world carrying our burdens of judgement, we are exhausted and need support. Nurturing and understanding all that makes us beautiful and messy allows us to heal the parts of us that were neglected, abused, and ignored. We need to look at our wounded parts with all of the love and attention that you give a tiny baby.

Achieving this upgrade requires courage and stamina. It requires us to leave blame behind and step into the realm of self-compassion. Embracing our uniqueness means acknowledging that the path to healing involves understanding our individual narratives and rewriting the script with love and acceptance.

When we carry the “Black Sheep” or any other “othering” label, it’s an opportunity to redefine what that means to us. Instead of viewing it as a burden, we can see it as a badge of resilience, a testament to our ability to navigate through challenges that others might not comprehend.

Our unique experiences may have left us feeling isolated within our own families, but it’s crucial to recognize that we are not alone in this journey. Many others share similar struggles, and through connection and empathy, we can build a community that understands and supports one another.

As we embark on the path of healing, it’s essential to let go of the blame that may have been instilled in us. Blaming ourselves for the family problems or feeling responsible for others’ happiness only perpetuates the cycle of pain. True healing begins when we release those burdens and redirect our focus inward.

The process is not easy; it requires courage to confront the wounds, strength to carry the weight of our past, and resilience to face potential judgment from the world. Yet, in doing so, we unlock the door to self-discovery and the freedom to live authentically.

So, let us cast off the shackles of blame, embrace our uniqueness, and embark on the journey of self-love and understanding. For in doing so, we not only heal ourselves but also contribute to the healing of those around us. We become the architects of our own narratives, forging a path that celebrates the beauty in our imperfections and the strength in our authenticity.

July 26, 2018April 12, 2019

Writing to meditate and heal

I read a beautiful book I once named “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. She introduced me to the practice of morning pages. Writing three pages each morning started as just something new to try. It began so long ago now that I have forgotten my motivation. It would take me hours, struggling to make the words flow out of my fingers onto the page. Most of the time it was pages of the silliest mundane drivel, anything to reach my goal.

That drivel was probably the most important stuff that I ever wrote. Having a learning disability that makes it difficult to spell, I have always felt a lot of shame around my writing. These morning pages were the first time I made myself use my voice in a way that was allowed to be, and meant to be imperfect. The goal was not to write anything in particular, what mattered was writing three pages. What ended up happening was my first experience of listening to myself and the inner dialogue that was creating the world I lived in.

There are lies that we tell ourselves all the time: I can’t cook, I am not prepared enough, there is not enough time. In the background noise of my pages I write down my lies. They usually come out as blame, creating problems and self doubt. When I see the lies on the page in front of me a different part of my brain takes over and solves, works around or flat out dismisses them.

My journey of recovery started with those first pages. I have learned to use meditation as my daily tool for connecting my internal chorus to my awareness, but I would not have known that was possible without those pages. If you are looking for a place to start, and especially if you have no access to professional help, try morning pages. Three pages written everyday (within reason, some is better than none) for at least a month, looseleaf size, single spaced. It is tough and time consuming, and so is everything else that is worth doing. You deserve to listen to your own story. You are worth it.

June 15, 2018April 12, 2019

Dark Places

We have all been here. Some of us drop in briefly, there are others who linger here like shadows. We journey here and back throughout our lives. Ours stays, chaotic in their nature of time and comfort. The darkness is endlessly terrifying, but there is a safety in the consistency of the solitude. Pain may be our nemesis in this place, but it is also our companion. We dance together, hoping it will end, but afraid to let go and have nothing.

Our dark places allow us to lay down the messiness of life that we carry above our heads. To drop all disguises. No faking. The weight of our pain separating us from the sometimes painful colour of our world. We hate it here, but our hell is safe. We believe you, when you describe the beauty of releasing the pain, we just do not know if we would exist without it. Without the violent emotions that we are hiding from, would we ever feel again?

Power comes from the realization that we have been carrying our mountains that are creating the darkness. We do the work to dig out, we no longer have to carry it with us as we move on. I will also suggest going back to nurture and love the piles we left behind, let them turn into beautiful cairns to honour our journey. If we are feeling weak we can look back at all we are capable of carrying and know that we are strong beyond measure.