Trauma’s Connection to our Health and Wellbeing

Excerpt: Trauma’s Connection to our Health and Wellbeing - Trauma Session 4

Course: Moving Through Trauma

Speakers: Matthias Barker

The Body’s Story: How Trauma Impacts Physical Health and the Power of Connection

We’ve discussed how trauma affects our emotions and brain. But a crucial question is: what can we do to heal? Before exploring solutions, we need to understand that trauma’s impact extends beyond our minds to our physical health. Without this broader view, our approach to healing might be incomplete.

The ACE Study: Unveiling the Link Between Childhood Trauma and Physical Health

The groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study in the 90s and 2000s revealed a significant link between childhood adversity and adult health issues like heart disease and autoimmune disorders. Researchers found that the more adverse experiences individuals reported, the higher their likelihood of experiencing various health problems in adulthood, even after considering other factors.

For example, individuals with four or more ACEs showed substantially increased risks for attention problems, hepatitis, depression, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and suicide attempts. Higher ACE scores were also linked to increased rates of drug addiction and a significantly shorter lifespan. Further studies have connected high ACEs to obesity, smoking, autoimmune disorders, chronic pain, and lower socioeconomic outcomes.

The Light in the Darkness: The Power of Resilience Factors

However, the ACE study also offered a message of hope: resilience factors, particularly the presence of love and connection, could buffer these negative health outcomes. Even one stable, loving adult in a child’s life could make a significant difference. Communities embracing these findings, like in Walla Walla, Washington, by focusing on problem-solving, connection, and safety in schools, have seen remarkable positive changes in student well-being and academic success.

Embracing Connection and Safety for Holistic Healing

This highlights that fostering problem-solving skills, connection, and safety in our lives isn’t just about emotional well-being; it has tangible benefits for our physical health. Building warm, supportive relationships can literally rewire our bodies and promote healing on a fundamental level.

Therefore, when we consider healing from trauma, we must adopt a holistic perspective that acknowledges the deep connection between our mind, body, and spirit. Trauma is held within all three, and our journey towards healing must address this interconnected reality.

If you like the content, you can continue in a few different ways…

1. See the outline below and check out other sections from the Moving Through Trauma course.

2. Take the full small group course to your church community! The first course your church runs is free! Reach out to us here to learn how.

3. Connect with a Share The Struggle Coach for one-on-one support. Let’s face it, some of us have tried kicking this thing, and we’ve had no luck. It’s time to start looking toward forms of support that can help us see and feel the beautiful life God has in store for us.

Session 1

Welcome to the Moving Through Trauma Course

Video: Welcome

Video: Guardrails & Grace for the Journey

Video: For Those of You Who

Topics: Hypoarousal; Hyperarousal; Grace

Session 2

Video: Grounding Exercise - From a Place of Calm

Video: Unpacking Trauma

Video: Our Trauma Threshold

Topics: Embedded Trauma/Traumatic Event; Traumatic Threshold

Session 3

Video: Grounding Exercise - Breath and Bilateral Stimulation

Video: How Trauma Functions in our Emotions, Brain, and Body

Video: Our Three Primary Responses to Trauma

Topics: Neuroscience Terms; Fragmentation/Dissociation/Isolation

Session 4

Video: Grounding Exercise - Lowering Stress in the Nervous System

Video: How Family & Collective Systems Impact How We Experience Trauma

Video: Trauma’s Connection to our Health and Wellbeing

Topics: Attunement; Containment; Rupture & Repair; ACE Study (Third Video)

Session 5

Video: Grounding Exercise - Breathing in Hope

Video: How We Heal

Topics: Healing: Reconstruction; Release; Acceptance

Session 6

Video: Grounding Exercise - Grounded in the Present

Video: Relationship with God

Topics: Relationship with God; Prayer Practices

Session 7

Video: Relationship with Self

Topics: Cold Water Treatment; Developing Story Awareness

Session 8

Video: Grounding Exercise - From a Place of Calm

Video: Relationship with Others

Video: Redeeming Trauma

Topics: Building Support; Listening Triad

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