The brain is programmed to deal with stress and trauma in a specific manner. As stress increases and we are threatened, the brain increases activity to ready the entire body to fight or flee the stress – to exercise an escape plan. We are ready to
run or ready to fight – whichever will be our best action to lessen the stress threat. Heart rates go up with blood pumping to our extremities, pupils dilate, a flood of glucose causes the brain to be hypervigilant and active – this is fight or flight – the condition we are in when we can run away or counterattack to lessen our stress threat. However, when the brain is overwhelmed by stressors, when there is no place to run and no opportunity to fight – when we are helpless in the face of the stress threat, our brain shifts to numb us to defend us from self-implosion – defend us from being overwhelmed – protect us. Heart rate decreases, extremities become cool, weariness overtakes us, energy is reduced, and we are numb all over – in shock. Just the thought of coming for counseling can be overwhelming.
We at Restore Counseling Center care deeply for those who have been traumatized. Whether you have experienced molestation, domestic abuse, a vehicular accident, war, rape, death in the family, robbery, or anything that has caused PTSD or generational trauma we are here to crawl in the trenches with you.