64 Triggered memories
TO THE TRAINER
PART II: THE TRAINING
Triggered memories
Aim. To deepen further the group’ s understanding of how trauma responses are triggered.
Before asking participants to role play, the Trainer should demonstrate how to explain to survivors the nature of triggers and trauma reminders. Show the participants before they try it out themselves.
The role play is a good opportunity to demonstrate that it is possible to talk about triggers without going into detail about the traumatic event. You can also show that it is possible to explain the response in a short time.
After your demonstration, write the triggers on the wings of Figure 4( The Butterfly Woman experiences triggers and flashbacks). Complete the drawing before you start Role Play 4.
ROLE PLAY EXERCISE
Role Play 4. Retelling the story and understanding triggers.
Telling the Butterfly Woman’ s story can help a survivor to understand her own reactions and how her own memories are triggered.
The story puts her reactions in a meaningful context. It gives her clues to her own trauma reminders. This can empower her and lessen her shame. In many cultures it can be a great taboo to talk about having strong emotional reactions. When she uses the metaphor of the Butterfly Woman, a survivor is not forced to describe her own feelings and reactions. She can communicate them indirectly. Through the story, both the helper and the survivor find distance and freedom, enabling them to speak to one another about things that are unspeakable.
TEACHING INSTRUCTION.
Recap. Say again what a trigger is and what a flashback is. Remind the participants that, after trauma, we become sensitised to reminders of past threats. Explain how traumatic events are stored differently from ordinary memory. Use these explanations to deepen understanding of how the responses of the Butterfly Woman are triggered.