Specialties
"The paradox of trauma is that it has both the power to destroy and the power to transform...."
~ peter levine, phd
What is Trauma?
In general terms, trauma is defined as an event or events that happened to us that should not have happened. Trauma can also result when
certain events should have happened to us, but didn't.
Trauma causes significant psychological and emotional distress and can result from
a single event or from a series of ongoing distressing events.
What is Interpersonal Trauma?
Interpersonal trauma is a type of trauma that occurs when distressing events,
usually coupled with a lack of love, empathy, support, or understanding,
take place within the context of close relationships.
There is usually an imbalance of power within the relationship. Examples include
intimate partners, siblings, parent/child relationships,
or even employer/employee relationships.
When physical, emotional, psychological, financial,
or sexual abuse occurs, interpersonal trauma results.
Interpersonal Trauma Specialties
Interpersonal trauma can have lasting effects which, if left untreated, can cause a host of physical and emotional symptoms. These may include anxiety, depression, hyper-vigilance, avoidance, panic attacks, sleep disorders, weight maintenance issues, substance use disorders,
and many more.
Interpersonal trauma can erode our self-esteem and self-worth,
distance us from our own bodies and feelings, threaten future relationships, and destroy our sense of trust and safety.
Trilogy Healing Center was created for the treatment of
three significant types of interpersonal trauma:
Attachment Trauma, Complex PTSD, and Narcissistic Abuse.
Attachment Trauma
To understand Attachment Trauma, we must first understand what "attachment" is. Attachment Theory describes the connection formed between an infant and their primary caregiver. Babies have a natural drive to connect physically and emotionally to their primary caregiver to secure safety and survival. When the caregiver responds favorably to the baby’s bid for connection and provides the comfort, food, or safety that is sought, the baby learns to trust that the caregiver will be available when they need them. When this occurs, the baby develops what we call "secure attachment" and, as they grow, can explore their world confidently, knowing they can return to the caregiver for safety and comfort, if needed.
If, however, the caregiver does not respond consistently or appropriately, the baby perceives this as a threat to their survival. They subsequently form coping mechanisms in an attempt to overcome the threat, which is known as an insecure attachment style. Insecure attachment affects not only the child’s ability to confidently explore their world, but it also affects how they view themselves, others, and the world itself. Insecure attachment can have a detrimental effect on adult relationships too. People with insecure attachment can be easily triggered into a flight or fight response when a current situation activates painful stored emotions from infancy or childhood.
Our caregivers are our first human connections. They teach us how to connect with others and whether it is safe to do so. If this process is unsuccessful, insecure attachment results, and this is what we call Attachment Trauma. Many people with Attachment Trauma do not realize the stories they are carrying or messaging they received as young children or infants. They will continue to carry that messaging throughout their lives, until fear, maladaptive behavior, and failed relationships drive them into therapy.
Complex
PTSD
Most people are familiar with the term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. This occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic incident, such as an accident, death of a loved one, violent crime, or battle, when the circumstances overwhelm the body's ability to process the event. In PTSD, the stress response persists long after the event is over and includes an array of psychological and physiological symptoms. For example, flashbacks of the event, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, and emotional symptoms (anger, fear, sadness) are common for people struggling with PTSD.
A lesser know form of this disorder is Complex PTSD, which occurs in response to prolonged and repeated exposure to traumatic events. CPTSD often begins during childhood in households where abuse and chaos are present, although it can also form as a result of abusive adult relationships. Symptoms of CPTSD are similar to PTSD with the addition of certain specific symptoms, including significant emotional dysregulation, interpersonal problems, and negative self-concept. The flashbacks experienced by CPTSD sufferers tends to be "emotional flashbacks." In other words, when the individual is triggered, they will feel a surge of emotion (and the associated physical symptoms) that reminds them of the trauma, without the visual image usually present in a PTSD flashback.
Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissistic Abuse occurs when an individual experiences emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical abuse, at the hands of a person exhibiting narcissistic traits. The abuse can be overt (obvious to the victim and others) or covert (hidden). Both forms are detrimental to the victims self-worth, happiness, and ability to thrive. Covert abuse can go undetected for years, or even decades, and create a devastating sense of loss and betrayal when discovered. Attachment Trauma can set the stage for a person to fall victim to Narcissistic Abuse. Narcissistic Abuse can cause CPTSD. Narcissistic Abuse involves it's own unique set of symptoms, including self-blame, difficulty trusting oneself and others, and felt "loss of self." Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse carry significant shame and guilt, which can be exacerbated when well-meaning friends and family inadvertently re-traumatize the individual and/or invalidate their experience. When seeking help for Narcissistic Abuse recovery it is important to work with a professional who understands the nuances of this insidious form of abuse.
