Trauma Support Wednesday Thursday Check In

Welcome to the Wednesday/ Thursday check in. Today's topic is Sense of Self and Identity after trauma.

But first an icebreaker: What's your favorite breakfast food?

Trauma carries with it numerous factors that interfere and prevent a person from achieving identity. Trauma unequivocally impacts your relationship with yourself and it can change how you think about yourself.

Who am I? This is an easy question for most people. You would probably respond with your name. Your name encompasses all that you are: your likes, dislikes, hopes, fears, etc. Your name expresses your identity. However, for some people, their name is nothing more than a word. For people with trauma, establishing your identity can feel next to impossible.

The most extreme forms of identity disturbance due to trauma occurs in 1.5% of the population. This may not seem like much, but it is the same number of people in the world who have bipolar disorder. trauma can impact our sense of identity through:

Identity loss, Identity alteration, Trauma-centered identity, Identity affirmation, Identity replacement.

And much more.

identity gets disrupted because “basic survival takes precedence over, and uses resources ordinarily allocated for normal development of the self.”

Dissociation is a “mental process” that causes a separation of someone’s thoughts, memories, and identity.

Dissociation affects your sense of self by:

feeling like you are missing part of yourself, Not recognizing yourself, Being unable to remember yourself as a child, Having “parts” of yourself that don’t seem related to each other.

Trauma Centered Identity is an impact of trauma on the sense of self. People often find traumatic experiences to be defining moments in their lives. This can be positive when it leads to personal growth or societal change. However, trauma centered identity has the potential to be very harmful. Some negative impacts are:

Surrounding yourself with people who fit your traumatic narrative (toxic friends, abusive relationships)

Reliving the trauma over and over

Surviving trauma is something that should be celebrated. You should be proud to be standing on the other side of a horrific experience. However, when you base your identity on your trauma, you don’t allow yourself to heal.

Living with trauma-based identity problems can feel like being a ghost. It can be frustrating when you can’t form a consistent opinion. Not knowing how you feel and why you feel it is confusing and exhausting. It is terrifying to not recognize yourself.

You don’t have to be a ghost. You are seen and heard, and your experiences matter. Recognizing your lack of identity can be hard, but it is possible. It is the first step in healing from your past and moving forward to a healthier future.

Has always these questions are optional, feel free to say hi pick up or drop off a hug or 2

Hang tough stay pawsome ur friend and forum supporter 🔥

Todays question: How well do you know yourself?

https://www.dana.org/article/coming-apart-trauma-and-the-fragmentation-of-the-self/

https://wwnorton.com/books/Your-Life-After-Trauma/

@adaptableLake3534 @adventurousBranch3786 @AstronomySkies @AveryLove @BeenAKiwi @BillyJoeBobb @blueScarf9326 @BrokenDreamsPalace @CaptainTrev @CaringBrit @clare7199 @Colorfulcatsofhope @CoolBeans29 @crimsonLime6525 @crxxtvfl0w @depressedsatellite1452 @DinaElwy @emylly @Feathersfall @FigureskatingEquestrian @Fireskye13 @Fleggles @Gagaintheroom @gentleLand5245 @goldenSpruce1512 @Grandmaof10 @gregariousBeing5071 @hillsideblues @honestpanda81 @HonestWarrior6624 @HopeNChayil @HumanPersonThingy @Hydrangea03 @InfinityandBeyond23 @Itisbailey @jr50 @jupitermatilde @Kekesea11 @Kickiree @Kimmkimm @LightofWorld @Lilly28 @lovehummingbirdsCindy @LovelyOrangeJuice @lowkeyem1001 @Lubo123 @maya6548 @Mellietronx @mkaitx @mytwistedsoul @navyMango2804 @neatBlueberry3608 @NevaehRose @Nolanhm @nonethewiser @NoneTheWiser @notmyselftoday @npos25 @oceancruiser48 @OffDutySeraph @ottersngiggles @pencilmarks @PinkestOctopus @rainbow3140 @Randomperson453 @ReallyRuth @Rebekahwriter13 @Redhawk6547 @redmark @Rosa9570 @SarahAlaina15 @scarletPear1945 @sensitiveShade5337 @shiningDay80 @Silverviolets @sleepingd0gg0 @SnippyHam @SoulSupporter102 @spectacularSunrise7824 @stickercollection @Summer899 @SynSavory @Taylorz27 @tealOak8933 @The0Vetoed0System @ThreadbareThinker @TransparentPuzzle @Turtlegrrrl8 @u1146 @Understandingempath @UndomesticGoddess @WarriorHeartsSystem @weepingwillow5489 @Worrior22Warrior @Writersworld