Language to Relieve Trauma
When we think of the word ‘trauma’, we tend to think of war, violence, death, illness, or injury. However, research shows that events seen as common by society, such as bullying, can also imprint on our minds, affecting the way we see and interact with the world. In The Body Keeps The Score (2014), Bessel van der Kolk introduces this conceptualization of trauma being a current and physical living imprint in us, discussing its potential causes and consequences. The author also discusses psychosomatic symptoms, the principle that our mind can make our body sick essentially, as a great consequence of stress and traumatic experiences. An important aspect of the book is the proposed strategies to heal the mind and body.
If the mind, carrying thoughts and feelings of trauma, can influence our body in such a way, how can one cope with this? A proposed method is through language.
Consequences of trauma and how language can help​
Trauma in childhood years may leave prints long after the fact, influencing our emotional, physical, and mental health (Sweeney et al., 2018). Our brain volume and activity is impacted, with our neurons reactivating and firing in panic, creating fight-flight-freeze responses to seemingly small unimportant day to day events instead of responding only to real threats to our life (van der Kolk, 2005). The effects on the brain can be of varying magnitudes and locations. An affected area, for example, is Broca’s Area, which is responsible for language processing and producing speech and shows reduced activity in trauma survivors (Hull, 2002), making it difficult for them to put their experience into words. Putting one’s experience into words can therefore be difficult when the person can’t name their emotions or has trouble describing a situation related to the trauma. Some may resort to silence as a way to cope, because trauma may create a disconnect between experiencing and producing language.
Studies show that language, through sharing stories or writing, can bring benefits to people experiencing the prints of trauma. Writing, for example, can help us connect dots and create a sense of control of the narrative. In using language to cope, we are reducing our physiological stress (Pennebaker, 2017) and taming the storm of thoughts and memories in our minds into a story we share in our own terms. While it can be difficult and awkward at first, writing can shape a structure out of our emotional turmoil and give our body a relief, as suppressing our emotions impacts our physical as well as our mental health (van der Kolk, 2014).
It can take some time for the effects to be felt, and that’s normal because language can only work as a relief mechanism when we feel truly safe. That’s why starting with talk therapy first before writing about your trauma can be very beneficial. At our practice, we co-create a safe enough space where together we can start putting your emotional wounds into words and work together to help you take control and shape your own story.
References
Hull, A. M. (2002). Neuroimaging findings in post-traumatic stress disorder: Systematic review. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 181 (2), 102–110. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12151279/Â
Pennebaker, J. W. (2017). Expressive writing in Psychological science. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(2), 226–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617707315
Sweeney, A., Filson, B., Kennedy, A., Collinson, L., & Gillard, S. (2018). A paradigm shift: relationships in trauma-informed mental health services. BJPsych Advances, 24(5), 319–333. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2018.29
Van der Kolk, B (2005) Developmental trauma disorder: towards a rational diagnosis for chronically traumatized children. Psychiatric Annals, 35: 401–8. https://hartfocus.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Developmental-Trauma.pdfÂ
Van Der Kolk, B., MD. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin.