Human beings are a mind and a body.  We encounter the world through our senses (body) and our nervous system is shaped by our body’s experience (Moya, 2015).  There is no living body without mind, so to be more accurate each human being is a mindbody (Totton, 2003).  We cannot separate one from the other.  Each mindbody comes with its own capabilities and disabilities, and differences and similarities to others.  Yet, it remains a constant that every human has a mindbody and we need to take care of the whole system not just aspects of it.

If we consider that each mindbody is a means of communication and exploration (Payne, Koch, Tantia, & Fuchs, 2019), then it makes sense that we experience our world in relation to others.  We are all social animals, we do not live in isolation, but in relationship with another human, animal, and the environment both natural and built (Mallgrave, 2015).  There is always a stream of information being cycled into and through our body about our surroundings and interactions with other.

At its most basic definition trauma is the response to a terrible event, the mindbody has been shocked in some way that now parts of it are on high alert to make sure that you never experience that again (Kraybill, 2019).  This is the trauma response, when parts of your body or mind highjack your entire system to get you out of a situation that for some reason those parts deem dangerous. 

Physical responses:  The body acts (what feels like) on its own accord to remove you from the danger.

Ex: A war veteran hears firecrackers and hits the deck.  No thought at all, just the physical reaction to stay safe.

Emotional responses:  A reaction where a person can be overwhelmed with emotion and they employ the fight, flight, flee, and fawn response to get them out of danger. 

Ex: A person who have survived sexual trauma employs flirting and giggling to find a way out of an uncomfortable situation and escape.

Vicarious or secondary trauma is the emotional response our mindbody has to witnessing the pain, fear, and terror that others endured (Manning-Jones et al., 2016).  This has been attributed to counselors who help process others trauma, but the list does not end there.  It is anyone who puts their own life and emotional wellbeing on the line to help others.  Firefighters, police officers, EMT, Doctors, Nurses, social workers, advocates of survivors and in the now COVID reality we live in, respiratory techs, orderlies, anyone who is on the front lines helping to alleviate the suffering of patients. 

It can show up as:

• Burnout

• Irritability

• Lack of empathy (it’s like the empathy muscle is so used up it got exhausted)

• Anger

• Self-destructive behavior

• Etc.

While it may have traveled to the mindbody in a slightly different path in those who witnessed the trauma as appose to receiving the trauma.  There comes a point when those who have experienced this can also develop PTSD.

Known as C-PTSD it is the result of prolonged (feeling unending) trauma, think child abuse (emotional, physical, verbal, and mental), domestic violence, sexual abuse, war, etc.  and all the combinations that can come from this list.  Again, not complete, but you get the idea. 

Emotional flashbacks can show up a lot here.  You know you are in the situation, you are conscious of your actions, yet your mindbody is yelling at you to do something to get you out of danger.  You watch yourself react, your emotions are overwhelming, and you are completely emotionally highjacked by your own mindbody.  You feel out of control, so not only are you upset, you are upset at your own reactions, actions, and emotions in the moment.  So, it feels like this: AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! WTF, I must do something now to alleviate this pain and overwhelm.  These are the actions that we will come to later regret when we calm down and try to reengage in relationship.