While I started out investigating trauma from the same viewpoint as many of you, spurned by a single event, attack, or natural disaster, my definition of the kinds of events that could cause trauma has grown steadily year by year. I’ve landed most recently on the potential and likelihood of society as it is, filled with scarcity, conflict, fear, and competition being absolutely enough to leave all of us impacted by trauma. This unnatural and toxic load we all carry in today’s society is making us sick and that must be addressed. Simply asking folks to slow down, nap, rest, etc without the support systems to do so is not only impossible but potentially harmful as the correct social safety nets are not in place to make sure that doesn’t cause more harm.
Living a life in a constant state of stress however low is extremely taxing on our systems. In fact, low levels of ongoing stress hormones may be some of the hardest to identify as being present and therefore not be addressed as causing ongoing health problems. Think of a low but constant buzz and the headache and exhaustion that can cause and you will get a sense of what I mean. Or consider an undetected slow leak that drips and drips and drips.
We must also think about the holding in of emotions so regular in our society. Studies show that repressing and suppressing emotions makes us sicker and can cause disease. And yet society does not provide us with acceptable ways of releasing the stress it imposes. My European husband is red hot embarrassed when I scream which is deemed totally inappropriate in his culture, and it’s not that much more okay in the US. We all need to scream, pound a pillow or throw something now and again. The latest trends of Ax throwing and break everything Rage Rooms as entertainment are proof we are desperate for release. Drumming, dancing, trancing, and yes yelling can help get it out!
So, as we look to lessen the allopathic load we can consider multiple pathways including trauma-focused therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which can help individuals process and cope with traumatic experiences. Mind-body practices, such as yoga, yoga retreats, meditation, and tai chi, can also be helpful in reducing stress and promoting healing. And…as we keep all these therapies in mind we must also work to make breaks, vacation days, and other destressing opportunities more regular and accepted in our social environment or we will never be able to keep up with the heavy load of living in modern society.
If you are interested in learning simple and highly impactful ways of reducing stress and regulating your nervous system for yourself and others, please join me for a yoga retreat at Kripalu Center for Health June 30th-July 2nd where this will be the main area of focus.
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