Why We Should All Be Trauma-Informed
Experiencing trauma is a part of life. Every human being has an event that suddenly enters their life without invitation or cause that disrupts the everyday to the point of destabilization. Trauma is like a tsunami that comes into our lives, upending everything you thought you knew about the world and leaving destruction in its wake.
Sometimes, it is easy to pretend that we are exempt from trauma and don’t have to experience its impact on us. When life is going well, it is easy to turn a blind eye to the suffering in the world because we don’t want to be upset. But, unfortunately, “upset” will eventually come; something will enter our lives that will shake our comfort.
Human trafficking is one of those issues. You may have seen a news report, read a testimony of a survivor, or encountered this issue in a more personal way. Yet, it is easy to think that the trauma of this does not touch you, but this is a false belief. The suffering of other human beings is our suffering; it should disturb and move us to want to help do our part in assisting change to come.
The ability to learn about the subject that we want to avoid (trauma), and what it does to the human body, mind and soul is invaluable in this movement. The hope in doing this is that not only will we gain understanding to build compassion for others, but we will also gain compassion for our own stories of trauma, as well.
Becoming trauma-informed is not an easy process, it has a personal cost. Not only do you have to look at the ugly parts of humanity, but you also have to acknowledge how your own trauma has shaped the choices you make everyday. The problem is that trauma doesn’t end when the event did; its ripples are felt over the years and into the present.
If you are going to be in contact with those who have suffered severe trauma, it is imperative that you do two things:
First, be willing to do your own work. Take time to know your own story. Is there unresolved trauma in your life that needs your attention? If there is, know that being in contact with the trauma of others will trigger your own. Don’t engage in this work if you are not in a place where you feel you can engage that healing process.
Secondly, training is essential. It is important that you know what trauma does to the body and the brain. Joining a class or a seminar or listening to teachings about trauma, are all a part of becoming trauma-informed. Listen to the stories of survivors, without judgement, and learn from them. Don’t be afraid of the learning curve; the more you engage it, the more the trauma-informed muscle will develop.
Know that being trauma-informed is more than just information and knowing things. It is having a personal experience with trauma. What I mean by this is that you encounter how trauma has touched your life in some way personally, and are able to use that experience to inform how you respond to the trauma of others. Unintentionally, advocates of survivors can repeat traumatic situations and relationships that made them feel humiliated, controlled, and used.
By not being aware of how trauma manifests and its process of recovery, you will eventually fall prey to recreating it in some fashion. This may sound harsh, but I believe that if you are reading this, it is safe to assume that your heart is for abolition and fighting against exploitation. I am grateful that you are a part of this battle.
Becoming trauma-informed will fortify you for the work ahead. When going into a conflict like this, it is important to have the right tools in your hands to defend yourself from vicarious traumatization or secondary trauma. This manifests as a lot of the same symptoms as PTSD: nightmares, hyper-vigilance, burn out, depression, intrusive thoughts, etc. It is not easy to engage the dark and evil parts of humanity. It is brave and courageous to want to face it head on with wisdom and discernment.
It is not an easy journey. It is one that is similar to the path of healing trauma. There is a breaking of denial, an acknowledgment of the pain, grief, and anger. All of this is a part of what becoming trauma-informed means. It demands the whole self to be engaged in the process and a willingness not only to be impacted, but also to be changed by the encounter with it.
About the Author
Grace is a survivor of human trafficking who is working on a degree in professional psychology. She is passionate about being a part of the movement to end slavery by providing trauma-informed services to fellow survivors after her schooling is finished. She is an avid reader, loves to create art and music, play with animals, and take note of the little bits of beauty that make up ordinary life.