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How Trauma Gets Trapped in Your Body. Trauma is a mental injury, not a mental illness, but when that stress becomes chronic, it takes root in your body. In the last video we talked about how stress hurts your body. In this video you’ll learn how trauma gets trapped in your body. We’re going to talk about ACES and crocodiles and how Holocaust survivors passed down anxious genes to their kids. You’ll learn why you feel stuck in chronic stress. And in the next video you’ll learn what to do about it.
At its essence, trauma is in the nervous system. When your brain perceives a threat (like a crocodile), it turns on the self-protective fight-or-flight response. This is the sympathetic response in your autonomic nervous system. You move from a state of safety to activation – fighting off an attacker, running away, defending and protecting yourself. Your nervous system triggers a massive physiological response, pumping out adrenaline to jolt your muscles into action and the stress hormone cortisol to increase blood sugar to power your intense movement. But cortisol also turns off non-immediately essential functions like your immune system, your digestion, healing, and repairing systems in your body.
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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life’s direction.
And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe
If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.
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"Trauma is a mental injury, not a mental illness" and in the first 5 seconds of this video, you completely changed how I view myself.
SOS please. I am in that state since months, my health is in danger, taking medication but this doesn't help. What can I do alone? I have trauma from hospitals here so no way to go there…
Hi Emma, Is there any way the promotion can be extended? I am just getting over being really sick and I haven't had access to YouTube until now. I love your content and I would have taken advantage of your black Friday and Cyber Monday promotion had I been able. Thank you for all you do!
First video I’ve ever seen with zero dislikes.
Thanks!
Thank you for the videos! Extremely informative!
Now I believe “the sins of the father” are a real thing. Being verbally and physically abused on a consistent basis as a kid, I have always been tensed up. I can’t seem to relax. I can’t seem to stay calm. Being young, whenever my father comes home from work, my heart begins to pound heavily. Cos for some reason, I knew that there was going to be some abuse coming down my way.
This happened for so long that, even in my 30s I still feel this deep sense of anxiety and tension. I take things too seriously, I can’t face a confrontation even when the other person is so wrong. I easily back down from a confrontational situation and then I later get super angry at myself for not standing up for myself. Thanks to this video I now understand that it was because of the childhood abuse and humiliation I took from my father and mother.
Thank you so much for shedding light on this. Best to know where I am at, how I got here to be able to see where I want to go.
Your channel is really saving a lot of people. Again thanks, and much love ❤️
I am greatful and thankful for reikie and the hands that heal the trama. Practice it on yourself helps thank you for this video. 🕉
I don't know why I can never go through any of these self help videos without crying. I don't know what gets me. I'm just scared.
I've been living in this critical state for so long, that at this stage a single good word from someone, anyone, brings me to tears. and shatters my reality or whatever is left of it. I have adopted the idea that loosing my life is the only solution that could put an end to it all, and I can not wait for this moment to come. I am not looking for anyone's understanding or apathy, frankly i do not care, i just want this to end, the petty existence.
i’m 15 and i’m realizing how much trauma i have been manipulated into forgetting/being ok w. i’ve been emotionally and physically neglected for long periods of time during childhood since my parents would have to work from either 5 to 5 or 4 to 4. toxic positivity and emotional invalidation ha riddled my childhood thoroughly. “you’re happy. just thought it out. you’re being too sensitive. __ doesn’t cry about this as much as you do. you’re such a brat”. i also was gaslighted regularly into thinking that MY CHILD-LIKE BEHAVIOR was BAD. smh. imagine telling a kid that they can’t act like an immature kid 🤦🏽♀️. we lived in poverty and it got better around my adolescent years, but i distinctly remember days where my parents would argue bc they were afraid we’d end up losing our apartment. i also remember not being able to afford things most things could, or always feelings guilty for asking for anything. further into my life- my brother tried to take his own life 11 times. his first time trying to take his own life was in front of me when i was 8 years old. he threatened to slit his throat with a knife. i moved to my home country alone w my brother in 7th grade. i had to grow up fast bc my family expected early to know what to do with him and how to help him when he’d have episodes for his bipolar. i got bullied in middle school from 7th to 8th grade, and i got sexually abused in 8th grade. this all really hurts to type out, but i feel liberated somehow knowing that i’m not the only one who’s severely damaged haha.
I don't see part 3. Can anyone direct me?
Is there a way I can contact you? Your education on this is Phenomenal👑🌹
Oh yeah i still deal with this it happened the other day when dealing with someone and i froze it brought back a trauma from the passed.
Hi, Emma! Where does bullying fall in this?
The body keeps the score by Bessel Van der Kolk
Why, as a therapist, would you include personal religious beliefs and a link to the Mormon church in your description? You do realize there are trauma survivors who have been victimized by religious dogma, including the Mormon church and it’s dehumanizing beliefs about those in the LGBTQ community? JFC.
How do you pass on "stress genes" if chronic stress is caused by experiences? Experiences don't get passed on through genes.
Your information is so so so valuable, but it's so difficult to retrain the brain. 😥
Trauma is so exhausting. Great video, super validating and informative. Thank you!
You are an amazing teacher, thank you!❤️
Can an extremely humiliating experience be traumatic?
Apparently it's NOT normal for someone to feel a painful sensation rush through their body when they see or hear of an accident or injury, animated or not. I just found this out. My spouse grew up in a more stable environment. That response started when I was young. Feels like someone hit my "funnybone" but it vibrates throughout the body. Also yes, I have pain autoimmune diseases. sigh
This video is incredible – so well put together, thank you! Its so important ro realize that doing the self-work can truly affect your own life in a positive way, plus future generations in both teachings and genetically.
This is truly the work of the Divine, in loving kindness and graditude 💙
I'm eager for the next video, 3/3!
Thank you so much. I did experience many traumas in my life. It caused me to stutter and fear people. Now, I m way better than ever, but I still have some numb versions of me that don't lessen to me. I feel so much of body resistance. I hope I can find so guidence in your next video.