Blog Post #2 (chapters 3&4)
These two chapters I found to be so fascinating! The brain scans of the fMRI clearly show the brains lack of activity in the Broca's area (speech center). When people experience trauma, and there is lack of activity in this area, one is not able to put their thoughts and feelings into words. Van Der Kolk states, "It is enormously difficult to organize one's traumatic experience into a coherent account - a narrative with a beginning, a middle, and an end." As I was reading this, I was reminded of a story of this past summer. I worked at a behavior and mental health camp. Many of the kids we worked with experienced trauma, but there was one girl that I worked directly that had experienced sexual abuse at the hands of her step father and older brother. She had a few bruises and marked that were congruent with her story. She had opened up to people twice in the past, and nothing happened. She was interviewed by the police and by DHS. She stated she was so nervous for these interviews, and she tried her best to describe what happened. She explained how difficult it was to put it into words and people began to say that she was lying. This happens so often with kids who've experience trauma. This incoherent story is a direct result of the damages the trauma had on the brain. Someone who hasn't experienced the kind of trauma these people have see this inability to collect thoughts into a coherent story as lying when in fact it's the brain trying to piece together extremely difficult memories.
A part in the second chapter that I found to be so helpful in describing feelings and behaviors of a traumatized person was on page 56. It says, "Neurons that fire together, wife together. When a circuits fires repeatedly, it can become a default setting - the response most likely to occur. If you feel safe and loved, your brain becomes specialized in exploration, play, and cooperation; if you are frightened and unwanted, it specializes in managing feelings of fear and abandonment." That was such a clear and easy way to describe the brain and body's response to trauma. It also gives a clear understanding as to why a kid doesn't automatically become well-behaved after living in a home that is loving and caring. Though this can happen with time, it takes work to change the default setting of one's brain.
Thanks for sharing a more personal experience of trauma of someone you worked with. I have a kiddo currently who disclosed abuse in the home. We've documented and reported, but she is now starting to tell us less and less. When asked how things are going in the home, she will respond, " I can't tell you - they told me not too". It's absolutely heart breaking to know that she is being told not to say things at home and is being called a liar by the other kids in the home. I appreciate your input on the 'default setting' response. So often in foster - care, foster- care parents can become easily upset by the behaviors of the children as they may assume things should be good now that they are safe. While I know the journey to foster care is long, I wonder how much emphasis is put on trauma informed care.
ReplyDeleteThere is no manual on how to raise kids. There is definately no manual to raise children who have severe trauma. One of the most discouraging things I see in my profession is that caregivers do not have an understanding of how to help children who have suffered trauma. Caregivers don't understand that the child is going to have some serious adjustment issues that include a range of behaviors. People who care for traumatic victims believe that there isn't work involved and that is simply not a realistic view of parenting. Do you know if your client ever was able to live a normal life?
ReplyDeleteHebbs axiom "neurons that fire together, wire together" has actually deeply informed my understanding of habits, emotional reactions, and relationships in my life and in the lives of those around me. It's helpful to educate your clients on this too--when they realize there's a reason the habit is so strong or the reaction so irrational they can go back and try to understand why they might be wired that way.
ReplyDelete