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Triggers ( trauma reminders ) and flashbacks
SAID ALOUD
Triggers ( trauma reminders ) and flashbacks
Aim . To clarify the nature of triggers ( trauma reminders ) and how survivors understand their own state of mind .
PART II : THE TRAINING
Trainer . In this session , we will talk about
• Triggers , which are events , objects or situations that revive memories of trauma .
• Flashbacks , which are sudden , strong re-experiences of a past traumatic event .
We will explore how to avoid triggers , and how to regulate or control them when they appear . We will talk about how the Butterfly Woman can be calmed or awakened when trauma feelings revisit her body and mind . You too will tell this story to survivors , to show them that help is available and to give them some hope for the future . I ’ ll go on .
The helper started to tell the Butterfly Woman about the health centre . She described what kind of place it was , and told her that many raped women had come there .
Inviting the Woman to stay at the health centre , the helper took some clean clothes and gave them to her .
The Woman cleaned herself and put on the clean clothes .
The Butterfly Woman was greeted by the other women and the helpers . She felt welcome . She was given a clean bed in a dormitory she shared with other women . For the first time since the horrible events , she managed to rest .
At the health centre the Butterfly Woman isolated herself , and it was obvious that she was suffering . The helper offered her a consultation and asked her about her suffering .
The Butterfly Woman said that she was doomed and destroyed . The helper asked how long she had felt that way , and she replied that it all happened after the terrible incident . She also said she had lost her family because of this . The helper asked her to say how her suffering affected her thoughts , feelings , breathing , heart and body . The Butterfly Woman replied that bad thoughts came to her mind . She thought she was a bad woman who had lost her dignity and that soon she would go mad . She even admitted that she already felt quite crazy and described chaotic feelings of shame , anger and fear . She said that her body was tense and weak at the same time . She said that she had lost all her power and she felt doomed to have this illness forever . She also believed that she was visited by evil spirits .
The helper explained that this was a very natural reaction to the very abnormal experience she had suffered . She told the Woman that all the other women at the centre could confirm this . She also invited the Woman to a group where other women discussed their reactions and tried to find ways to cope with the pain they felt .
After this talk the Butterfly Woman immediately felt a little better , less crazy and less alone . It comforted her to know that other women felt the same way that she did .