The Adaptive Nature of Trauma Responses: Unpacking Your Suitcase of Survival

Trauma is not just about events that happened to you—it's about the heart, mind, body, and spirit trying to navigate a world that feels overwhelming. When you experience trauma, the symptoms that arise aren't just 'symptoms' in a traditional sense. They are adaptive responses that our ancestors have honed over millennia to survive - it’s your body's innate wisdom trying to protect and preserve you amidst challenging circumstances.

One of the most empowering shifts we can make is to alter how we perceive our trauma responses. Instead of viewing them solely as disruptive symptoms, let's explore another perspective—that of adaptations born from our body's evolutionary creativity and genius.

During an amazing training I took with Ana Gomez, she offered up this beautiful metaphor of the adaptive nature of trauma being like the protective clothing we wear if we lived in the north pole. I give credit and thanks to Ana for her wisdom and kindness as I write this post.

Your Body’s Adaptive Armour:

Imagine for a moment that you've been living in a harsh, cold climate. The biting cold, the snowstorms, the icy paths—all demand that you wear layers upon layers of clothing. Over time, you learn to pack on more layers, to choose the thickest scarves, the warmest gloves, and the most insulated boots. This is an adaptive response. It's your way of surviving the hostile environment.

In the same way, when you face traumatic experiences, especially during formative years, your body, mind, heart, and spirit layer up with protective mechanisms. Hypervigilance, difficulty trusting others, and feelings of detachment, among others, are like the layers you wear in the cold—they're there to protect you.

The problem arises when these adaptive responses remain activated long after the threat has subsided. It's akin to wearing all your heavy winter clothing, even when you've moved to a sunny, tropical paradise. Suddenly, those thick layers, which were once lifesaving, become burdensome. They make you sweat, feel uncomfortable, and prevent you from enjoying the warmth on your skin.

Similarly, if your mind and body continue to operate in trauma mode—always on alert, always ready to protect—even when there's no imminent threat, it can lead to chronic issues and disturbances in your daily life. Your body's defenses, invaluable during traumatic experiences, might now feel like barriers to connecting with others, to experiencing joy, and to living life to the fullest.

Now Pause..

Take a moment right now. Breathe deeply. Think of one trauma response you've experienced and try to view it through this lens of adaptation. Feel the weight of generations of survival and ancestral wisdom pulsating within that response. Notice any shift in emotions, thoughts, or sensations as you explore this perspective. Does it inspire a sense of awe towards the intricate workings of your body? Does it help in dispelling some of the shame or distress linked to these symptoms? Even a slight softening towards oneself can be the first step in healing.

The journey to healing isn't about shedding these adaptive responses as if they were bad or wrong. After all, they served a pivotal role at some point in your life, and you may need them again in the face of any potential threats in the future. Instead, it's about helping you understand your body's wisdom, to appreciate its adaptive nature, and to gently guide it towards discernment.

Through building consistent connections—with a therapist, supportive community, or safe relationships—you can offer your body repeated experiences of safety. Over time, your body, with its innate resilience, can relearn to identify when it's genuinely in a cold, threatening environment that requires all those protective layers and when it's safe to enjoy the warmth, unburdened.

If you are a trauma survivor, I invite you to carry this perspective with you. Your trauma responses are not signs of brokenness but testimonies of your body's ingenious strategies for survival. By embracing this viewpoint, you don't just change your relationship with trauma; you honour the deep-rooted strength and resilience that's been part of humanity's story—and your story—for ages.

In your moments of struggle or self-doubt, lean into this reframing. Celebrate the evolutionary marvel that is your body. And remember, your body in its wisdom, always aims for your well-being, even if the methods it uses are sometimes puzzling.