The Healing of Trauma

1. The Healing of Trauma Challenges to rebuilding southern Sudan

2. Trauma is the most significant health problem for southern Sudan • “Everyone is sick with it” – Fr. Paul Boyle, Director of Holistic Trauma Healing, Nairobi • If unrecognized or undervalued it will undermine all attempts to rebuild the society and the Church.

3. The first five years after the Peace • If there is no longer an enemy • The impact of the trauma must be displace on someone, somewhere if not healed • The displacement will go back to the culture • Spouse • Child • Addictions: alcohol, drug, sex abuse

4. Healing Process • You need to • Name the trauma • Claim the trauma • Tame the trauma

5. If you don’t deal with trauma, trauma will deal with you.

6. Trauma doesn’t’ go away like stress • It remembers itself somewhere in our system, in our souls • Often in the place that wants to be gratified

7. There is always a trigger • Something that will evoke a memory

8. Terms • Stress • Strains our ability to cope • Internal/external events push us to our limits • Tension • We feel pressure, confined focus, panic • Response is different according to the situation

9. Trauma • Holistic – it effects the mind, body & soul • Effect: frozen, numb, helpless, emotionally detached • Brain can’t cope so it turns off

10. Stress Anger Sadness Fear Distrust Feeling Controlled Helpless Anxious Trauma Violence & Rage Depression Terror Paranoia Feeling Manipulated Hopeless Threatened Can’t control emotions Indicators of Stress & Trauma

11. One traumatized person can traumatize 100 people • Experience of stress is momentary • Post Trauma Stress Disorder • A way of life

12. Two emergency responses to trauma: Hyper-Arousal or Dissociation • Fight or flight • Fear – Terror • Adrenal System increases • Heart/Blood pressure system increase • Serotonin decreases • Cognitive Process hyper • Respiration increases • Adult male response – aggression • Potential homicide

13. Dissociation • Defeat – surrender • Numbing – dissociation • Freezing feelings – Compliant • Fainting • Heart Rate decreases • Sensory alterations • Muscles go numb • Passive • Potential suicide

14. Denial Trauma remains unconscious and is subject to triggers where the trauma is stored – the place where the brain wants stimulations Drugs, Sex, Violence Reward > addictions Healing Begins by reflecting on the symptoms and the traumatic event A supportive environment that takes serious the reality of trauma Prayer Possible Responses

15. Shock Numbness Denial/Disconnected Reoccurring anxiety Nightmares Changes in appetite Trouble sleeping Shame/Guilt Being on edge Despair/Hopeless Easily startled Low energy/depressing Constantly busy Memory Problems Overly Alert/Agitated Unable to focus Resentful Difficulty making decisions Spontaneous crying Over-protective of loved ones Process of Trauma35% of symptoms on regular basis indicates presence of Trauma

16. Healing Process • You need to • Name the trauma • Claim the trauma • Tame the trauma

17. Recommendation • Goal: Each Sudanese Community in the US have a trauma healing workshop • Each project proposal include funds for a trauma healing workshop for the principle participants in the Sudan