Others may consider themselves someone who loves working hard and working a lot.
Yet, not everything is a trauma response.
Insisting it can cause more harm than good.
Verywell / Dennis Madamba
So, What Is a Trauma Response?
First, lets get very clear on the actual definition oftrauma.
A trauma response is how we respond to trauma.
Mental health professionals typically conceptualize this through the lens offight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
What Isnt a Trauma Response?
Social media (Im looking at you,TikTok) may have you believing everything is a trauma response.
First, let me be clear.
Some may be left digging for trauma that hasnt occurred.
Social mediaisnt a replacement for therapy and trauma responses can be quite individualized.
Something that I find even more problematic is the lack of sources for the claims made on social media.
Lets say someone with PTSD gets into a disagreement with their spouse.
This person feels misunderstood, angry, and sad.
They have trouble focusing the next day, considering how the situation can be remedied.
They might be a bit irritable, too, since their sleep also suffered.
Even Therapists Question What Is and Isnt Trauma
Heres a personal example.
I strongly dislikegoing to the dentist.
The sound of the drillingoverstimulatesme, and I have sensitive teeth, so even routine cleanings can feel uncomfortable.
Once she finally saw me and stopped, I was scared and breathing.
I dont want to go back at all.
Does this now mean I have trauma around going to the dentist?
I was seriousI never liked the dentist and was really scared during that appointment.
I considered bringing it up to my own EMDR therapist.
It was an awful experience and youre having an appropriate response to it.
That doesnt necessarily mean youre having a trauma response, my colleague replied.
While this response may seem lacking compassion to some, it was very grounding for me to hear.
I reflected on the definition of trauma.
What’s the Harm in Labeling Everything As a Trauma Response?
For starters, labeling everything as a trauma response is an inaccurate approach.
Everythingisnta trauma response, and spreading misinformation isnt good for anyone.
Furthermore, assuming someone who is atrauma survivoris experiencing a trauma response can be deeplypathologizing.
When Are Labels Helpful in Healing?
Finally, many express.
Finally, I realize I am not broken.
2012;39(2):341-359. doi:10.1086/662996
