Creating a strictly objective rule about how we experience trauma, process trauma, and respond to trauma is extremely difficult. Trauma and how we individually handle, as well as respond to trauma, is incredibly subjective and highly individualized. Even if two people experience the same exact trauma event, they will have two completely different experiences and will have two completely different responses to what they experience. This isn’t a matter of trauma and trauma response but humanity and human life.
Much of philosophy and inquiry has been dedicated to our concepts of reality- how we define reality, how we interpret reality, and how our perception of reality shapes the way that we are, and are capable of, living our lives. There is an equal amount of argument as to whether or not our idea of reality is entirely ours which often expands into the argument that our biology or our physical form could shape our reality as equally as our experiences. In the case of responding to and attempting to live with trauma, the answer is both. Our experiences shape our body, and our body can shape our experiences, particularly when trauma is involved.
We are growing in our understanding of what differentiates one body from the next and one brain from the next and how those differences contribute to handling trauma. Whereas one person might immediately experience trauma symptoms, another may take time. Whereas one person might not be affected by trauma much at all, another person might be severely affected in myriad ways.
Biomarkers in the brain could be pointing us in the direction of learning exactly what it is we need to know about what separates the way people experience trauma.
Futurity reports on a new study which studied combat veterans who showed symptoms of PTSD which were considered to be more severe. According to the article, these individuals had “…distinct patterns of neurological and physiological responses affecting associative learning- the ability to distinguish between harmful and safe stimuli in the environment.” The fascinating elements of the study revealed that individuals with ranging severity of symptoms respond to life differently.
Our answer is simple, PTSD is different for everyone because everyone is different. Consequently, treatment for PTSD and other manifestations of trauma need to be different for every person as well.
You can walk through your trauma. The Guest House Ocala offers residential treatment programming for trauma, addictions, and related mental health issues. Call us today for information on our customized programs and availability: 1-855-483-7800