Trauma Response

 Last week during one of my classes,

I witnessed a kid have a trauma response.

Another kid either touched or pushed him—

I didn’t see which—

And it really upset him.

He ran over to the kid,

Said, “Don’t touch me again,”

And then ran to the back of the room

Where he stayed for the rest of class,

Trying to pull himself together.

He wasn’t trying to get attention.

He wasn’t being stubborn and not going to his seat.

He was shut down,

Clearly triggered by the other kids’ touch.

 

Last Sunday, as I was scrolling through FB,

This video caught my attention.

As I watched,

Somewhat horrified,

Somewhat sad,

I kept thinking,
“Trauma response.

This guy is so enraged that he’s not thinking.

Something has triggered him and he’s gone.”

 

According to Bing’s AI generated search,

A trauma trigger is a psychological stimulus that prompts involuntary recall of a previous traumatic experience. It can be anything that reminds you of a past trauma, such as a certain smell, a particular song or sound, or a piece of clothing.  Triggers are unique to the individual and can vary widely between people.  When you encounter a trigger after trauma, a strong emotional and behavioral reaction comes over you. It’s as if you are reliving that trauma all over again.  The word “triggered” has become a popular term to describe anything that causes emotional discomfort. But for people who have experienced trauma, triggers can be terrifying, all-consuming, and can seemingly come out of nowhere. 

 

So. The next time you see someone strongly overreact,

Stop and understand that they may be acting out of a trauma response.

And even if they’re not,

The stress of their lives may just be too much for them to handle in that moment.

Does it excuse hurtful, damaging behavior?

No.

But it sheds life on its roots…

And it reminds us that there is far more going on in a person’s life than we see on the surface.

 

Oh God: Give us eyes to see and ears to hear those who are hurting around us. When it’s us who is hurting, help us to get the help that we need. And when it’s those whom we love who are hurting, help us to love them in the exact ways they need to be loved—even if it means kicking them into your arms and allowing you do what we cannot. Be with victims of systemic trauma and grant them the resources that they need to heal. Help us to not perpetuate a broken system but to learn, to educate, and to rise above the brokenness, into wholeness in you. Amen.