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.
