Understanding the Effects of Trauma in the Lives of Women

broken-heart-and-hands-1-176x176Trauma is a widespread, harmful, and costly public health issue that is strongly associated with substance abuse and mental health disorders. More than half of all prison and jail inmates meet criteria for having mental health problems, 6 in 10 meet criteria for having a substance abuse problem and more than 33% meet the criteria for both. 1, 2

Given the high correlation between trauma, substance abuse and mental health disorders, it makes sense, from a public health perspective, to address the effects of trauma which often precipitate mental illness and substance abuse — dominant features in the cycle of incarceration and homelessness that shapes the lives of the women at Crossroads.

The effects of trauma can be pervasive and vast. Dr. Stephanie Covington, Co-Director of the Institute for Relational Development and the Center for Gender and Justice, states “Trauma can impact our inner lives. It can impact how we think, how we feel, what we believe. It can impact our outer lives; our behavior and our relationships.” 3

Most people are aware that trauma can ignite a number of emotional effects, including shock, terror, anger, grief, blame or guilt, demonstrated through outwardly intense emotion or, at the other end of the spectrum, complete absence of emotion or emotional numbness.

The effects of trauma can evoke not only powerful emotions but can may also affect an individual’s brain function. Cognitive effects of trauma are both short and long-term. They include confusion, disorientation, memory loss, difficulties in simple decision-making, obsessive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, lack of concentration, and impaired judgment. The chronic long term stress that often accompanies repeated or unresolved trauma has even been linked to physically observable negative changes in brain development, including a reduction in the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and spatial navigation. 5

Long term behavioral effects of trauma include sleep disruption, anger outbursts, exaggerated startle response, isolation, eating disorders, abandonment of self-care and hygiene, substance abuse, avoidance of people, increased social conflict, and distrust. It is not difficult to see why the long term effects of trauma sometimes lead to a realization of patterns defined by addiction, incarceration and homelessness.

Trauma is associated with myriad physiological effects that can manifest into long term health issues. Research shows that people who have experienced trauma are often at a higher risk to develop chronic pain. For example, a population-based study conducted by the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Örebro Medical Center in Sweden, established a link between sexual abuse and back pain, implicating abuse, or trauma, as a factor in the development of chronic pain. 4 This was the case for Ruth, a Crossroads for Women client, whose life was characterized by debilitating back pain –and trauma. “Most of my relationships have been physically and emotionally abusive,” says Ruth. Back pain made it difficult for her to engage in the activities of daily living most of us take for granted. As movement became more restricted, Ruth struggled with an overwhelming sense of isolation and helplessness. And, her recovery from addiction was compromised by the physical and emotional distress she experienced on a daily basis.

Connection and empowerment are important keys to facilitating the process of healing in the lives of women. In her article, Women and Addiction: A Gender-Responsive Approach, Dr. Covington describes the process of healing as transformative, and writes “This type of profound change is not linear and simple, nor does it occur in isolation. The process of recovery and healing for women occurs in deep connection with self and others.” 6

At Crossroads for Women, “we cultivate a nonjudgmental, healing environment or therapeutic community where people can feel at home with themselves, while discovering their own dignity,” says Joe Puleo, Day Program Director at Crossroads. Sarah Penland, Ruth’s former case manager at Crossroads for Women, states “Trauma is fundamentally disempowering. During a traumatic experience you feel helpless. Building capacity in terms of self-esteem and self-worth is a way to engage our clients in a process that empowers them to address and manage the effects of trauma in their lives, while bolstering them on their journey toward recovery.”

 

  1. (Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions. Pg. 26

(citing Shonkoff, J.P., Boyce, W.T., & McEwen, B.S. (2009), Journal of

the American Medical Association, 301(21), 2252 – 2259).

  1. (Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions. Pg. 25).
  2. Reelizations Media. “Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women.”

Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 24, Apr. 2013. Web. 31 July

2013

  1. Linton, Steven James. (1997.) A Population-Based Study of the

Relationship Between Sexual Abuse and Back Pain: Establishing a Link.

International Association for the Study of Pain. 73(1). Pages 47-53. doi:

10.1016/S0304-3959.

  1. (Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions. Pg. 26

(citing Shonkoff, J.P., Boyce, W.T., & McEwen, B.S. (2009), Journal of

the American Medical Association, 301(21), 2252 – 2259).

  1. Covington, S. (2007b). Women and addiction: A gender-responsive

approach. (The Clinical Innovators Series). Center City, MN: Hazelden.

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