Different Ways We React To Trauma

[The Albatross]

Do you know which website she got it from?

Two articles were uploaded by a poster at Hubpages. I found the first one "How Experiences Become Trauma and the 8 Ways Different Ways We Cope" and then followed a link from that article to "8 Different Types of Coping with Trauma and Their Characteristics". The list A2W put up is the second article I listed.
A google search and then looking at the web address for Hubpages.com will likely turn it up. There was no author information as I recall, just a poster's name.

 

[Hashi]

I relate to a lot on every list, at a level that's making me feel uncomfortable.

One thing I'm thinking is that some seem general and not specific to trauma. The Arousal and Blocking ones I see in people (or they identify them themselves) who as far as I know don't have PTSD. In fact, I see them so much that I think they probably are general reactions to emotional issues.

I'm not saying this to pick holes. For me, it's useful to know that general psychological strategies can help me, not just trauma specific ones. It also makes me feel a bit more part of the human race, not just part of the traumatised corner of it.

 

[want2cope]

Wow, thanks for the information. That is some very deep and eye opening stuff. :)

 

[goingonhope]

Trauma Arousal Characteristics

8. Difficulty completing sustained, steady tasks

“Difficulty concentrating and attention problems are often reported by PTSD patients (Neylan et al., 2004). In their study of attentional dysfunction associated with PTSD among rape victims, Jenkins, Langlais, Delis, and Cohen (2000) found impairments in sustained and focused attention.

They did not find significant impairments in selective attention (selective attention is key in hypervigilance behavior). Jenkins et al. suggest that other PTSD symptoms may influence poor performance on attention tasks; efforts to avoid intrusive thoughts, poor sleep, and heightened startle response are all potential contributors. They also hypothesize that stress-induced brain damage could be altering performance.

Difficulty in focusing and maintaining attention can and does serve as a deterrent in interventions, particularly in interventions with a significant cognitive component (i.e. cognitive-behavioral therapy).”

Source: Clinical Efficacy of a Brief Hypnotic Intervention for Hyperarousal Symptoms in Sexual Trauma, By Melissa L. Auringer, B.S., M.S.

The one Trauma Arousal Characteristic.. that I presently identify with is: #8 - Difficulty completing sustained, steady tasks, though I've certainly once identified with far more from the list. Progress not perfection I guess.

 

[PTSD sufferer]

One thing I'm thinking is that some seem general and not specific to trauma. The Arousal and Blocking ones I see in people (or they identify them themselves) who as far as I know don't have PTSD.

Agree with you Hashi. There are some on here that my hubby ticks as well. He has general anxiety though and has had his fair share of 'stories', although he does not have PTSD.

 

[angel2write]

I think the first group is specific to PTSD... those are the reactions/symptoms that make PTSD what it is.

The others, as you say, are maybe more generalized reactions. You could have those reactions to traumatic events and not have the PTSD set. Or, as a lot of people have found, you can have both! (Oh, joy...)

I think the thing that appealed to me about it was to see some of the individual things I struggle with sort of "grouped" or organized. So that I can see that they're part of a pattern of behaviors. Somehow it makes me feel like less of a failure for struggling with these things. It's the power of naming.

Before I was diagnosed with PTSD, I just felt bad and crazy. Getting the group of symptoms named and identified as PTSD, something that other people struggle with, too, really helped. Seeing the shame characteristics was kind of the same feeling. Other people do this. Other people feel this. Other people react this way. I don't necessarily feel this way because I'm bad. And I'm not necessarily bad for struggling with these things.

Getting some of the guilt out of the way helps me feel like maybe I can work on the behaviors themselves better.

 

[Taven Carlsen]

Babylon 5 fan?

Yep. Watched it all the time during my crazy times in HS actually.

 

[Dethuan]

Yep. Watched it all the time during my crazy times in HS actually.

One of the few people I should aviod. You know my worst nightmare.:ninja:
Sorry just in one of those moods...

 

[Indifferent]

Gosh, very revealing... There wasn't a single list I didn't tick something off on, and several - splitting, abstinence and shame - had horribly high scores for me.

I think that the trauma bond list is about the only one I can mark off any appreciable improvement so far.

I don't know how this forum works. I picked your thread can it says you're online. Nearly all the above applies to me I think. I'm looking for someone who knows this site well to help guide me through. My apologies if this is not an appropriate post or way to contact someone on here.

 

[angel2write]

If you have questions about the way things work, Indifferent, try the help desk. It's in the last section on the forum list, and people are glad to help.

 

[shell]

It's very discouraging to recognize how many applied to me, it seems like a never ending list of things to work on.

 

[rowean]

Splitting and Shame were the top ones for me - interesting that seems to be the case with so many here, many of whom are women and suffered abuse - part of the learned behavior no doubt.

At o'dark thirty this morning (yes, another night of no sleeping) I sent my T an email and we are now going to get into the shame factor. Seriously, she emailed me back this morning! I was surprised. Guess I will be tackling those pesky internal messages.

So don't want to do this but so need to do it.

Seriously, I want a healthy happy life and I often wonder if that is ever possible.