Trauma and Adversity
When thinking about someone affected by trauma and there reaction in the moment - it is best to recognise the 5 Fs.
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FIGHT - I will try and injure or scare off the threat.
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FLIGHT - I will try to get away.
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FREEZE - If I stay still or hide the threat may go away.
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FRIEND - If I am nice to the threat, maybe it will be nicer to me.
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FLOP - If I act dead, immobile, and my muscles stop working the threat may lose interest.
Safety Behaviours
ARE NOT
Shameful.
Trauma is something our bodies are not meant to store or endure frequently.
Your body is designed to keep you alive, so you can deal with the aftershock after the threat has gone.
Sometimes we need help.
There are 2 types of trauma:
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Primary - something that impacted you.
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Secondary / Vicarious - something impacted someone else and has begun affecting you.
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Our reaction to trauma can happen in the short-term (6 months from the event), or in the longer term (6 months +).
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Trauma may represent a one off event that was overwhelming, stressful, and long lasting.
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However, complex trauma may be multiple traumatic events whether the same or different in context or timeframe.
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What I Have Learnt About
Trauma
and
Adversity
2017, Mental Health First Aid in Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harm, Suicide, Psychosis, and Eating Disorders.
2021, RASASH - the Potential Impacts of Sexual Assault and Trauma.
2021, RASASH - Reporting Violence and Assault
2021, RASASH - Working with those Impacted by Abuse. inc:
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Physical Abuse, Damage of Items/Property
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Emotional Abuse
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Mental Abuse, Coercive Control, and Gaslighting
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Sexual Abuse
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Financial Abuse, Material Abuse
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Digital/Tech Abuse
2021, RASASH - Working with those Impacted by Ritual Abuse.
2021, RASASH - Working with those Impacted by Childhood Sexual Abuse.
2021, RASASH - Working with those Impacted by Childhood Sexual Exploitation.
2021, RASASH - Working with the Impacts of Pornography.
2022, Carolyn Spring - Working with Dissociation and Dissociative Identity Disorder.
2022, Carolyn Spring - Working with Dissociative Disorders in Clinical Practice.
2022, Carolyn Spring - Trauma and its Impact on the Body: Dissociation and Somatisation.
2023, Mental Health First Aid in Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harm, Suicide, Psychosis, and Active Listening.
2023, Emotion Coaching through Recognising, Validating, Setting Limits, and Problem Solving.
2023, NHS Mandated CBT Interventions for Anxiety - LIAM "Let's Introduce Anxiety Management".
2023, SMART - Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviours through REBT (Rational Emotional Behavioural Therapy).
2023, SMART - Disputing Irrational Beliefs.
Let’s Work Together
If you, or someone you know, are struggling with any of the above, feel free to get in touch.