Feature Story
Stopping the Trauma Cycle T
Mind-Body Healing Strategies by Carrie Gauthier
rauma can strike anyone at any time. Loss, heartbreak, abuse, violence, displacement, accidents,
disasters, health problems—the list of possible traumas is endless. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, 70 percent of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives, and more than a third of youth exposed to community violence experience post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma is a factor in most behavioral health and substance-use disorders. While trauma may be part of our lives, it does not need
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to define who we are or how we enjoy our lives. Healing from trauma can take time, but it is within reach.
Health Effects Leſt untreated, trauma or repeated trauma has a wide range of short- and long-term effects on physical and mental health. Trauma increases stress and keeps the fight-or-flight response on elevated alert, resulting in the release of chronically high amounts of cortisol into the body. Initial reactions may include exhaustion, numbness, sadness, anxiety and
dissociation. Excessive cortisol increases the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, digestive problems, muscle tension, headaches, sleep issues, weight gain, irregular periods, anxiety, depression and cognitive challenges.
Cycle of Addiction Trauma is a common precursor to addiction, because individuals oſten turn to substances as a coping mechanism for their emotional pain. Te use of drugs or alcohol gives trauma sufferers a reprieve from their chronic stress by producing
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