How does trauma happen
C-PTSD
Whether one person develops PTSD or not will depend on many factors. Though some go through very extreme situations, they do not get traumatized, while others can become traumatized by hearing the trauma of others. Why is this?
There are biological factors that control for PTSD. Some may become traumatized more easily than others simply from genetics, but biology is just a part of the story. Those who avoid thinking about their trauma or discussing it with others and those who avoid people, places, and things associated with the trauma are at a higher risk for developing PTSD. It is also true that if someone has already been traumatized, they become traumatized by future events at an increased rate.
C-PTSD
Still another factor that leads to the development of PTSD, specifically for people with complex trauma, is the lack of habits to deregulate an activated nervous system. Complex trauma is the build up of trauma over a long period of time. Like a glass getting filled up by water until it overflows, people with complex trauma have either been cut off from or never developed tools to take the water out of the glass to prevent overflow. Learning these skills is not only important to preventing the return of C-PTSD, but is instrumental in recovery. The reason for this is detailed in the Poly-Vagal Theory section.
Often times when we are traumatized or have just undergone a very stressful period, we feel discomfort in our bodies. To avoid this discomfort we find ways to feel better and numb ourselves. There is a strong link between PTSD and addictions. It seems that PTSD can be a factor for developing an addiction, but addiction can also be a factor for developing PTSD for two reasons. The addiction itself can be dramatic, but it causes us to “check out” of our body and ignore the discomfort and the pain we are feeling which can also cause PTSD. Many people can develop addictions to drugs, but less obvious forms like eating, pornography, or using the phone can be effectively similar in so far as we no ignore what is going on inside of us and do not process what must be processed to avoid traumatization. There is no traumatic event, only a list of factors and responses to an event that can lead to PTSD.
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