The Psychophysiology of Trauma

Most trauma treatment programs seek to apply standard psychological and psychiatric approaches to the symptoms and problems presented by patients. Recent findings from psychophysiological studies indicate that standard approaches alone may be insufficient for the long term healing of trauma survivors.

Bessel Van der Kolk, MD, a trauma specialist and author of more than a hundred papers and several books on trauma, recently presented some aspects of his work at a psychology conference. Dr. Van der Kolk directs the Trauma Center in Boston, possibly the largest trauma specialty center in the US.

In his presentation, he shared some of his research in which brain scans were performed on patients who suffered trauma. They found that it is the limbic part of the brain that is most affected by trauma. During a traumatic experience, the right posterior part of the brain, the part of the brain that does not have language, shows the most activity. These studies help explain why standard "talk-based therapies" may have limited success with trauma-survivors. The anterior part of the brain, the part of the brain that is associated with speech and being able to talk about events, literally shuts off during trauma.

This also may be a reason why the scars from such traumas can lay dormant for a time (months or even years). Because they reside in the portion of the brain without language, their ability to connect in a cognitive manner is limited. When they do eventually 'speak' it may be with the voice of rage, substance abuse, or even physical violence.

Other neuroimaging studies show that trauma also affects the amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus and brain stem. It does not affect the verbal and understanding part of the brain. It is our bodies, not our minds, that control how we respond to trauma, what we do and don't consciously remember, and whether or not we recover from it. This means that in the midst of trauma, civilized discourse is not possible. It also means that people don't necessarily need to talk about trauma to resolve it.

Van der Kolk spoke about the success of working with the body to resolve trauma. He talked about the power of qigong, tai chi, yoga, dancing, and breathing in order to quiet the body down and teach people self-regulation.

Shamanic work is especially suited to dealing with trauma issues because it is essentially non-verbal, and works directly with the body. It also addresses the non-linear and non-verbal symbolic language of the psyche. Many practices involve drumming, movement and dance within a variety of ceremonial, ritual and symbolic contexts ... all of which are avenues to address the body and mind in ways not connected with language.

The Returning Warriors program utilizes shamanic journey, work with power animals and spirit allies, ritual burial, fire and water ceremonies that involve drumming and dance, and soul retrieval among other things. Creation of dreamcatchers and power shields also provides a non-linear, personal strategy to help deal with traumatic energies and blocks.

These body-oriented and symbolic approaches, combined with some dialog and information sharing, offers one of the best possibilities to successfully address the trauma of war, and integrate the Warrior back into everyday life.

- With appreciation to Sandra Ingerman and Ray Carter