Writer : Clare Steffen, Ed.D.
For individuals who have experienced trauma or are experiencing grief or loss, the task of trying to block extraneous information due to hypervigilance or a tendency to hyper-focus may be even more difficult. The two behaviors of hyper-vigilance and hyper-focusing act like a switch in the brain that has been turned on and the off switch is broken. The constant stimulation and input of information can be overwhelming which leads to a heightened state of anxiety. Learning to identify triggers and ways to manage them is crucial. Many individuals turn to substances as a way to self-medicate in an effort to reduce the discomfort of anxiety.
Until recently, individuals with trauma had trouble receiving the right type of mental health treatment due to the complexity of their condition and the multiplicity of symptoms presented.
I have rewritten the 12 steps from AA to modernize the language and to specifically address issues related to trauma. They are shared here to introduce the reader to a different approach to recovery from trauma and substance use. The Trauma Recovery Twelve Steps:
1. We recognize that the pleasure-reward system is triggered when we use substances and that we run the risk of life becoming unmanageable when we use.
2. Came to believe that restoring choice and building the skills needed to make healthy choices could restore our well-being. 3. Made a decision to connect with our true nature and find the courage to become our authentic selves.
4. Made an ongoing honest inventory of self in various environments and relationships.
5. Admitted to self and others our transgressions and plan to change and remedy our poor choices, errors in judgment, and harmful behaviors.
6. Made a commitment to develop character strengths and traits, and live a life of value, purpose, and meaning.
7. Admit our shortcomings and appreciate our gifts and attributes with humility.
8. Consider the people we have harmed and attempt to repair the relationship if possible, or if the other person so desires.
9. Learn to forgive self and others if possible, and when not, work on creating acceptance, forgiveness, or love.
10. Continue to personally assess the manner in which we live our lives and made a commitment to avoid the perpetration of trauma, chaos, or hurt.
11. Seek through prayer and meditation to heal and transcend our unhealthy past and to consciously determine an enlightened way of being.
12. Having had an opportunity to develop and restore wellness, we share these teachings with others to offer support and healing to an individual, families, and the community to promote recovery. Twelve-Step to Trauma Recovery Inventory:
1. Ask yourself the benefits of using substances? In what way does this impact your ability to manage your life? What changes do you plan to make? How will you get there?
2. Examine your ability to make healthy choices. Do you know how to invite, investigate, and initiate choice? What changes do you plan to make? How will you get there?
3. What do you know about your authentic self? How do you connect to your true nature? What changes do you plan to make? How will you get there?
4. What do you love about yourself? In what environment or relationships do you connect to loving yourself? Are there changes you need to make to be healthy? What changes do you plan to make? How will you get there?
5. Are you able to take responsibility for your behaviors? How are you learning to make better choices? What healthy behaviors are you using to replace unhealthy behaviors? What changes do you plan to make? How will you maintain your new healthy behaviors?
6. Have you identified your character strengths and traits? Are you committed to living a life of value, purpose, and meaning? What changes do you need to make? How will you maintain them?
7. Do you know your shortcomings and can you apply your character strengths to balance them? Are you remaining humble? What changes do you need to make? How will you maintain them?
8. Have you taken inventory of any people you may have harmed and when possible, have you attempted to repair the relationship? What changes do you plan to make? How will you maintain them?
9. Have you forgiven yourself, and when possible, have you forgiven others? Are you working on acceptance, forgiveness, and love? What changes do you need to make? How will you maintain them?
10. Are you committed to living a healthy life? Are you actively avoiding the perpetuation of trauma, shame, chaos, or hurt in your life? What changes do you need to make? How will you maintain them?
11. How are you learning to rise above past hurts? Do you engage in mindful acts to become more enlightened? Do you have a healthy spiritual life? What changes do you need to make? How will you maintain them?
12. Are you engaged in giving back to others and are you part of a healing community? What change do you need to make? How will you maintain them?
Individuals who suffer from trauma oftentimes have disturbing and intrusive thoughts, images, perceptions, and flashbacks. Frequently, these occur without warning or because the individual has not yet identified their triggers or learned to manage them effectively. This causes them to experience dysregulation, which refers to emotional responses that are poorly regulated or do not display within a socially acceptable or expected range of emotional responses. They may be too intense or limited in the range of emotional responses. Sleep disruption and nightmares or terrors are severe problems for many, and without good sleep hygiene people are at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and a myriad of physical health risks and problems. Functioning under the condition of exhaustion is extremely difficult to manage. Managing stress effectively and making sure emotional support is readily available is crucial. Reach out to Clare: claresteffen.com
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