Trauma Defined

Trauma is defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. Remember trauma comes in various forms and just like addiction. Don’t judge somebody’s trauma. Somebody may have gone through something like a car accident and to you. You don’t think that that’s that big of a deal because maybe you’ve been through three or four car accidents and you’re fine somebody may have been abused as a child and years and years later things are finally coming to light in midlife and anxiety attacks happen, panic attacks happen, different things happen so understand that, we’re not here to judge somebody’s trauma.

So, if somebody is experiencing signs and symptoms of trauma and we recognize these things. It’s not our place to judge so never judge or never compare because what we want to do is what I talked about the beginning of this presentation is creating a safe space for people to be vulnerable to share what they’re going through and then from there to be provided tools to transform and to start healing and living a healthier and better life treat others how they prefer to be treated empathy respect clarity and trust go a long way when somebody comes up and speaks with you about trauma you need to keep that in confidence other than with HR or legal if that is the way your company policies work but this does not go to your entire company this does not go on social media this has to be respected because this is somebody’s deepest wound and they’ve entrusted you to help them navigate this moment in their life so I hope you do feel a sense of trust and respect when somebody does come to you, you may not know what quite to do but understand that, this person is trusting you and maybe they don’t have anywhere else to go.

So, it’s very important to understand what to do in this situation with trauma and rule number one never judge and don’t compare. It’s not your time to be talking about perhaps your own traumas. It’s your time to listen and then as you build trust and rapport then there may be an opportunity to share some of your own experiences.