Myth 1: Not All Trauma Involves a Direct Threat to Survival
Many believe that emotional neglect or shaming is not traumatic because it doesn’t involve a direct threat to survival. Elizabeth Kupferman says when people think about trauma they often think about war, but when you’re in an abusive environment, that war is happening every day, even if it’s not physical.
Myth 2: The Trauma Response is the Same for Everyone
It’s commonly thought that trauma responses are the same for everyone and can only be fight or flight. Kupferman talks about how freeze or fawn are also common responses where people can shut down or take care of someone else instead of themselves.
Myth 3: Damage From Trauma Depends on the Reaction During the Traumatic Event
Another myth is that the damage of trauma depends on how you react during the traumatic event itself. Often times the real impact lies in the aftermath when you’re trying to heal.
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