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Triggers ( trauma reminders ) and flashbacks ( continued )
SAID ALOUD
Aim . To understand the panicked and exaggerated behaviour of trauma survivors who experience flashbacks .
Trainer . Some words of introduction before I go on with the story . Our survival mechanisms ensure that we need only one experience to learn that something is dangerous . We have evolved responses that cause us to become aware swiftly when objects or situations resemble a dangerous experience we have had . An ancient part of our brain ( the amygdala ) alerts us to anything that resembles a past danger or trauma . This means that our bodies react or feel alarm when we approach something dangerous or that resembles a person , an object or an experience that has been dangerous to us in the past . We are built to generalise what we have experienced . So , if a woman is harmed by a man with blue eyes , all blue-eyed men , or even all men , may subsequently arouse fear and anxiety in that woman .
PART II : THE TRAINING
When our survival mechanisms are activated , the areas of the brain that deal with thinking , planning and reflection are ‘ turned off ’. Because only a limited part of the brain is processing what is happening , we can react almost automatically to a threat . And when trauma memories are triggered the brain goes into emergency mode , even if we are not in fact in danger . This explains the panicked and exaggerated behaviour of trauma survivors who experience flashbacks . Note how the Butterfly Woman reacts when her trauma memories are triggered .
At her medical examinations and treatment the Butterfly Woman felt more prepared . When memories about the rape came into her mind , she looked about her and named what she saw . She held tightly the stone that fitted her hand . And the nurse spoke gently to her , saying : “ You are safe in the hospital . You are getting help . You are a strong woman . You are doing very well . You are really doing what we practised together . I am proud of you . You can be proud of yourself too .” The Woman felt that she could be a little proud .
After this she returned to the rehabilitation centre . She felt calm after spending some time there . Her arms , legs and back felt stronger , and her heart felt lighter . She smiled and could think more clearly . This filled her with relief .
One day , when she felt light at heart , she went to the market . But there she saw some soldiers and , as if lightning had struck her , she panicked and fled to the centre . She felt it was all happening again , as if a film were playing in her head . Every time she saw a soldier , she felt the same , the memories flooded back , and she lost control . After a while she became afraid of almost all men . Her reaction was to flee . ( Hyper-arousal symptoms and anxiety ). Some days later she hit a man who had walked up behind her . She felt trapped because the path was narrow and , before she knew it , she had hit him hard . The sound of his steps reminded her of the rapists . She could not think , only react .
When she returned to the centre she was afraid and panicky and suddenly lost all her energy . She felt like a zombie and went to bed . The strength in her arms and legs left her and she could not think clearly . She could not smile . She felt sadness and confusion . She was afraid of going mad . It took some days before she became well enough to participate again in any activity .
BREAK 15 – 20 MINUTES .