Recognizing the signs and preparing the way for treating emergency medical personnel and caregivers when they need help with their own trauma.

1. trauma for
Caregivers.
A Workshop By
Judith Acosta,
LISW

2. Why are we so deeply impactedWhy are we so deeply impacted
by traumatic events?by traumatic events?
Because MindBecause Mind isis matter.matter.
We operate under theWe operate under the
delusion of separateness.delusion of separateness.
“Her body moved with the frankness that comes from solitary habits.
But solitude is only a human presumption.
Every quiet step is thunder to beetle life underfoot.
Every choice is a world made new for the chosen.
All secrets are witnessed.”
Barbara Kingsolver in Prodigal Summer.

3. PART I:PART I:
The Hypnotic State ofThe Hypnotic State of
shock.shock.

4. PTSD & standardPTSD & standard
Definitions of stress:Definitions of stress:
Stress is a response characterized byStress is a response characterized by
Increased physical &Increased physical &
psychological arousal.psychological arousal.
(Everly, ’89)(Everly, ’89)
Stress is wear and tear. (Selye, ’76)Stress is wear and tear. (Selye, ’76)
Stress is inevitable (Judith Acosta, 2009)Stress is inevitable (Judith Acosta, 2009)

5. What to avoid when
Trying to heal trauma…
There is no comfort in major media.
It feeds on scandal and fear.

6. thinking
imagining
feeling
We are not what we think we are.We are not what we think we are.
We are what we think, imagine,We are what we think, imagine,
and feel.and feel.
We feel in our bodies.We feel in our bodies.

7. Lake water before and after prayer.
THE POWER OF THOUGHT.THE POWER OF THOUGHT.

8. Bach’s Air in G Om Namah Shivaya Thank you
Molecules changed byMolecules changed by
thought.thought.

9. What the bleep?What the bleep?
move a muscle…move a muscle…
change a thought.change a thought.
Change a thought &Change a thought &
move the whole body!move the whole body!
Alice Domar’s research & 10-weekAlice Domar’s research & 10-week
workshopworkshop

10. PTSD:PTSD:
Looking into theLooking into the
heart of darknessheart of darkness
•What keeps us Sick?What keeps us Sick?
(The trance loop)(The trance loop)
•What keeps those thoughts alive andWhat keeps those thoughts alive and
active even when they’re not true?active even when they’re not true?
(hypnotic trance)(hypnotic trance)

11. Deep trance Phenomena:Deep trance Phenomena:
It starts with theIt starts with the VowVow..
In order for a symptom toIn order for a symptom to
remain a symptom, there hasremain a symptom, there has
to be a DTP that we create toto be a DTP that we create to
hold the symptom picturehold the symptom picture
together. Without it thetogether. Without it the
pattern cannot repeat itself.pattern cannot repeat itself.

12. What Is Trance?
Narrowing, shrinking, or
fixing of attention.
Experienced as “happening to” us.
Characterized by spontaneous
emergence of DTP’s.

13. PART II: THE IMPACT OFPART II: THE IMPACT OF
TRAUMATRAUMA
Refugees: the silent sufferersRefugees: the silent sufferers
33% PTSD in children in central America33% PTSD in children in central America
20% PTSD in Vietnamese refugees20% PTSD in Vietnamese refugees
65% PTSD in Bosnian refugees65% PTSD in Bosnian refugees

14. the adrenal response:
fight
flight
freeze

15. CAUSES OF STRESSCAUSES OF STRESS
PsychologicalPsychological
SocialSocial
BiologicalBiological

16. ““The thought that won’t go away.”The thought that won’t go away.”
MIND BODY EFFECTS ofMIND BODY EFFECTS of
protracted or traumaticprotracted or traumatic
stressstress
accelerates aging:accelerates aging:
Vietnam vets get sick soonerVietnam vets get sick sooner
avg. male life expectancy is 73.avg. male life expectancy is 73.
avg. male life expectancy of a cop: 59avg. male life expectancy of a cop: 59

17. Stress responsesStress responses
general demands made on thegeneral demands made on the
systemsystem
cumulative effectscumulative effects
critical incidentscritical incidents
PTSD orPTSD or
acute stress disorderacute stress disorder

18. Burnout:Burnout:
fightfight
flightflight
exhaustion: giving upexhaustion: giving up

19. PART III: For the Caretaker.
Saving lives andSaving lives and
the greater risk ofthe greater risk of
secondary trauma…secondary trauma…
survival rules for helpers.survival rules for helpers.

20. Number One.Number One.
If you didn’t cause it,If you didn’t cause it,
you can’t cure it.you can’t cure it.

21. Number two.Number two.
Staying well means:Staying well means:
restrest
dietdiet
exerciseexercise
socializesocialize
verbalizeverbalize

22. number three.number three.
Have a spiritual contextHave a spiritual context
for your life.for your life.
Meaning.Meaning.
Purpose.Purpose.

23. number four.number four.
Make zen-sense of traumaMake zen-sense of trauma
try hard by not trying hard.try hard by not trying hard.

24. number five.number five.
Trauma is myopic.Trauma is myopic.
See the background.See the background.

25. number six.number six.
Cultivate inner stillnessCultivate inner stillness
breath workbreath work
yogayoga
meditationmeditation
prayerprayer
(studies of prayer in Washington D.C.(studies of prayer in Washington D.C.
that lowered crime rate by 25%)that lowered crime rate by 25%)

26. Number seven.
Create community
belonging
people and pets
the rescue workers club

27. number eight.number eight.
cognitive appeal:cognitive appeal:
understanding brings comfortunderstanding brings comfort
new thoughts rewire the neural netnew thoughts rewire the neural net
that has been caught in athat has been caught in a
feedback loop.feedback loop.
“Knowledge is the antidote to fear.”“Knowledge is the antidote to fear.”
EmersonEmerson

28. number nine.number nine.
Concrete acts of kindness:Concrete acts of kindness:
The Fort Ord studyThe Fort Ord study
Siebert’s studies of AmericanSiebert’s studies of American
soldiers in Korea & Survivorsoldiers in Korea & Survivor
traits.traits.

29. number Ten.number Ten.
Survivor styles:Survivor styles:
resiliencyresiliency
complexity (biphasic)complexity (biphasic)
self-esteemself-esteem
realismrealism
self-controlself-control
tolerance, care, con-conforming, intuitivetolerance, care, con-conforming, intuitive
empathyempathy
take chargetake charge
cleans up messescleans up messes
service-orientedservice-oriented

30. For special seminarsFor special seminars
Judith Acosta, LISWJudith Acosta, LISW
www.wordsaremedicine.comwww.wordsaremedicine.com
www.thenextosama.comwww.thenextosama.com