Treating Trauma in Caregivers

trauma for Caregivers.

A Workshop By

Judith Acosta, LISW

Why are we so deeply impacted Why are we so deeply impacted by traumatic events?by traumatic events?

Because Mind Because Mind isis matter. matter.

We operate under the We operate under the

delusion of separateness.delusion of separateness.

“Her body moved with the frankness that comes from solitary habits. But solitude is only a human presumption.

Every quiet step is thunder to beetle life underfoot.Every choice is a world made new for the chosen.

All secrets are witnessed.”Barbara Kingsolver in Prodigal Summer.

PART I:PART I:

The Hypnotic State of The Hypnotic State of

shock.shock.

PTSD & standardPTSD & standard

Definitions of stress:Definitions of stress:

Stress is a response characterized byStress is a response characterized by

Increased physical & Increased physical &

psychological arousal.psychological arousal.

(Everly, ’89)(Everly, ’89)

Stress is wear and tear. (Selye, ’76)Stress is wear and tear. (Selye, ’76)

Stress is inevitable (Judith Acosta, 2009)Stress is inevitable (Judith Acosta, 2009)

What to avoid when Trying to heal trauma…

There is no comfort in major media. It feeds on scandal and fear.

thinking

imagining

feeling

We are not what we think we are.We are not what we think we are.

We are what we think, imagine,We are what we think, imagine,

and feel.and feel.We feel in our bodies.We feel in our bodies.

Lake water before and after prayer.

THE POWER OF THOUGHT.THE POWER OF THOUGHT.

Bach’s Air in G Om Namah Shivaya Thank you

Molecules changed by thought.Molecules changed by thought.

What the bleep?What the bleep?

move a muscle…move a muscle…change a thought.change a thought.

Change a thought & Change a thought & move the whole body!move the whole body!

Alice Domar’s research & 10-week Alice Domar’s research & 10-week workshopworkshop

PTSD: PTSD:

Looking into the Looking into the

heart of darknessheart of darkness

• What keeps us Sick? What keeps us Sick?

(The trance loop)(The trance loop)

• What keeps those thoughts alive and What keeps those thoughts alive and

active even when they’re not true? active even when they’re not true?

(hypnotic trance)(hypnotic trance)

Deep trance Phenomena: Deep trance Phenomena:

It starts with the It starts with the VowVow..

In order for a symptom to In order for a symptom to remain a symptom, there has to remain a symptom, there has to be a DTP that we create to hold be a DTP that we create to hold the symptom picture together. the symptom picture together. Without it the pattern cannot Without it the pattern cannot

repeat itself.repeat itself.

What Is Trance?

Narrowing, shrinking, or

fixing of attention.

Experienced as “happening to” us.

Characterized by spontaneous

emergence of DTP’s.

PART II: THE IMPACT OF TRAUMAPART II: THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA

Refugees: the silent sufferersRefugees: the silent sufferers

33% PTSD in children in central America33% PTSD in children in central America

20% PTSD in Vietnamese refugees20% PTSD in Vietnamese refugees

65% PTSD in Bosnian refugees65% PTSD in Bosnian refugees

the adrenal response:

fightflightfreeze

CAUSES OF STRESSCAUSES OF STRESS

PsychologicalPsychological

SocialSocial

BiologicalBiological

““The thought that won’t go away.”The thought that won’t go away.”

MIND BODY EFFECTS of MIND BODY EFFECTS of protracted or traumatic stressprotracted or traumatic stress

accelerates aging:accelerates aging:Vietnam vets get sick soonerVietnam vets get sick sooner

avg. male life expectancy is 73.avg. male life expectancy is 73.avg. male life expectancy of a cop: 59avg. male life expectancy of a cop: 59

Stress responsesStress responses

general demands made on the systemgeneral demands made on the systemcumulative effectscumulative effectscritical incidentscritical incidents

PTSD orPTSD oracute stress disorderacute stress disorder

Burnout:Burnout:

fightfightflightflight

exhaustion: giving upexhaustion: giving up

PART III: For the Caretaker.

Saving lives andSaving lives andthe greater risk of secondary the greater risk of secondary

trauma…trauma…

survival rules for helpers.survival rules for helpers.

Number One.Number One.

If you didn’t cause it, If you didn’t cause it, you can’t cure it.you can’t cure it.

Number two.Number two.

Staying well means:Staying well means:

restrestdietdiet

exerciseexercisesocializesocializeverbalizeverbalize

number three.number three.

Have a spiritual context Have a spiritual context for your life.for your life.

Meaning.Meaning.Purpose.Purpose.

number four.number four.

Make zen-sense of traumaMake zen-sense of traumatry hard by not trying hard.try hard by not trying hard.

number five.number five.

Trauma is myopic.Trauma is myopic.See the background.See the background.

number six.number six.

Cultivate inner stillnessCultivate inner stillnessbreath workbreath work

yogayogameditationmeditation

prayerprayer

(studies of prayer in Washington D.C. that (studies of prayer in Washington D.C. that lowered crime rate by 25%)lowered crime rate by 25%)

Number seven.

Create communitybelonging

people and petsthe rescue workers club

number eight.number eight.

cognitive appeal:cognitive appeal:understanding brings comfort understanding brings comfort

new thoughts rewire the neural net new thoughts rewire the neural net that has been caught in a that has been caught in a

feedback loop.feedback loop.

“Knowledge is the antidote to fear.”“Knowledge is the antidote to fear.”EmersonEmerson

number nine.number nine.

Concrete acts of kindness:Concrete acts of kindness:

The Fort Ord studyThe Fort Ord studySiebert’s studies of AmericanSiebert’s studies of American

soldiers in Korea & Survivor traits.soldiers in Korea & Survivor traits.

number Ten. number Ten.

Survivor styles:Survivor styles:resiliencyresiliency

complexity (biphasic)complexity (biphasic)self-esteemself-esteem

realismrealismself-controlself-control

tolerance, care, con-conforming, intuitivetolerance, care, con-conforming, intuitiveempathyempathy

take chargetake chargecleans up messescleans up messesservice-orientedservice-oriented

For special seminars For special seminars Judith Acosta, LISWJudith Acosta, LISW

www.wordsaremedicine.comwww.thenextosama.com