TRAUMA COUNSELLING
Trauma affects not only those who are directly exposed to it, but also those around them. It frequently affects the ability to engage intimately in relationships. The minute we detect danger, we automatically go into fight or flight mode.
Individuals who can successfully fight or flee during a traumatic event, rarely develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as they are able to metabolize the energy and neutralise the threat. However, people who were "trapped", unable to fight or escape, often become traumatised.
Trauma survivors cannot recover until they become aware and familiar with the sensations in their
bodies.
SELF-REGULATION
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines self-regulation as “the control of one’s behavior through self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-reinforcement.”
Self-regulation includes being able to control responses to intense feelings such as irritation, excitement, anger, and embarrassment; calm down after an exciting or disturbing event; focus on a task; refocus your attention on a different task, learn to manage urges, and act in ways that help a person get along with other people.
Self-regulation is important because it impacts physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being. Like coping skills, self-regulation can be strengthened and improved. This helps an individual feel more empowered and less of a 'victim' to circumstances outside of their control.
Activities for Self-Regulation
- Reduce visual distraction in your environment
- Reduce clutter on your desk and in your workspace
- Eliminate background noise such as radios, televisions etc.
- White noise, fan, rain sound
- Use calming scents (lavender or vanilla)
- Smell from baking cookies, pies etc.
- Soft blankets
- Firm and sustained touch
- Warm drinks (tea, hot chocolate)
- Movement up and down, side to side, back and forth (bouncing on a ball, walking)
- Slow rhythmic movements (swings, rocking chair, car motion)
- Massage
- Raking leaves
- Hitting as baseball
HOW TO RECOGNISE A SEXUAL PREDATOR
The below article appeared in the July/August 2015 edition of "Your Baby" magazine.
