60 Triggers ( trauma reminders ) and flashbacks ( continued )
TO THE TRAINER
PART II : THE TRAINING
Aim . To understand how trauma memories , trauma reminders or triggers dysregulate survivors .
A survivor may become ‘ dysregulated ’. This means that she may enter a state of hyper ( over ) - arousal or hypo ( under ) -arousal . In other words , she may either have very strong reactions and overwhelming emotions , or experience withdrawal and numbness . Both states cause her to feel confusion and distress . She may also be disoriented by reminders of her trauma . In this situation , helpers can act as external regulators , helping survivors to orient themselves . For instance , a helper can ground the survivor by calling her name , reminding her of where she is , telling her the time , and reassuring her that she is safe . Such actions can help a survivor reorient to the present by using her senses actively .
KEY POINT
The story shows that
• Unexpected situations can suddenly trigger trauma reactions .
• It is possible to prepare against these , by using the senses to feel more present .
As noted , a trigger is an event or situation that resembles a traumatic event and abruptly awakes memories of it . It is like a spark that lights a flame . A small spark can cause overwhelming feelings .
Flashbacks are strong returning memories of past events . They invade and take over the present and force the survivor back in time . She may feel that the past event is happening again . After traumatic events , many people experience flashbacks . ( They are often called intrusions or intrusive memories , reflecting the fact that they are sudden and involuntary .)
Flashbacks are triggered by sensations – smells , images , sounds , touch . Senses are gateways that trigger memories . The senses can also be used to enable survivors to manage their triggered memories better . Survivors can be trained to use grounding exercises to cope with flashbacks , using their senses . These exercises work by reconnecting the survivor to the present , to the here and now . Physical cues , such as stones or marbles , can remind her that she is safe .
ROLE PLAY EXERCISE
Role Play 3 . Calming a survivor who has been triggered . ( 5-10 minutes .)
Ask the participants to form pairs . One plays a helper , the other a survivor . Ask the Helper to practise calming the Survivor . After a few minutes ask them to change roles .
Don ’ t forget to make sure that participants brush off their roles when they change over and when they finish .
TEACHING INSTRUCTION . GROUNDING EXERCISES .
Examples of grounding exercises are scattered throughout the training . It is important to practise them again and again , until the skill becomes automatic and can be called on even during moments of distress .