Understanding The Impact of Trauma Blocking
When grappling with trauma, it can often feel like you’re holding yourself back from fully engaging in life. It might be hard to move forward and focus on the present – or even think of a future without struggles or pain. You may find yourself relying upon distractions, such as overworking or seeking out addictive behaviors, so you don’t have to deal with what’s beneath the surface.
If this sounds familiar to you, then understanding how certain traumas “block” us from being able to cope is an essential first step toward healing. We can dismantle these blocks with care and compassion for ourselves and our struggles, building a foundation for healthier coping and healing.
What is Trauma Blocking and Why Do We Do It?
Managing overwhelming, intense emotions that accompany trauma can be challenging, and the instinct may be to push away or ignore those painful feelings. This behavior is known as “trauma blocking” – a method of distracting oneself from disruptive recollections, uncomfortable sensations, and unbearable anxiety – all aimed at suppressing unpleasant feelings related to a traumatic experience.
When we experience trauma, our brains get wired to expect danger and become hypersensitive to certain environmental stimuli. Trauma blocking is a way to cope with this hyperarousal and keep ourselves from being overwhelmed or triggered by an experience.
Many people have likely witnessed or experienced this type of coping mechanism first-hand but don’t know exactly how it works or what kind of impact it can have on one’s emotional well-being down the line.
Examples of Trauma Blocking and Their Impact
Trauma blocking is a coping mechanism that provides temporary relief by distracting us from pain. However, relying on it too much can be unhealthy and prevent us from facing the root cause of our trauma. Trauma blocking may manifest as emotional numbing, substance abuse, and self-destructive or compulsive behavior. While these behaviors may provide a temporary escape, they can ultimately hold us back from personal growth and happiness.
Additionally, they could increase a person’s risk of addiction and relapse. For example, if you try to quit using drugs or alcohol without addressing underlying issues, those issues may resurface and become overwhelming, potentially leading you back to substance abuse. Don’t let this happen! Instead, it’s essential to recognize the risks associated with trauma blocking and seek professional help to confront the root cause of pain instead of relying on temporary distractions.
How Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Can Help with Trauma Blocking
It’s not unusual to use trauma blocking when painful experiences occur, but recognizing when it becomes problematic is key to finding adaptive ways of moving forward. That’s where ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) comes in – a form of therapy that incorporates a low dose of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic drug, to help individuals break through persistent mental barriers linked to trauma blocking.
KAP is a unique approach that allows clients to enter a deep and relaxed state of mind, where they can explore their emotions and inner thoughts while feeling safe and supported. With the help of a skilled therapist, KAP can facilitate a breakthrough and help clients overcome their trauma blocking, leading to a stronger sense of resilience and well-being.
Here at New U Therapy, we understand the power of connecting a person back to trauma and helping them process it safely and effectively. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by living with unresolved traumas, please contact us so we can start exploring how we can help you move forward in your healing journey.
