Health - Psychology. Traumatic Event: Talking About It to Heal the Pain

War, sexual violence, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, assaults... a large majority of people experience extreme fear when exposed, as a victim or witness, to a potentially traumatic event. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 70% of people worldwide experience such an event in their lifetime. These events can leave deep and lasting psychological wounds .

"Psychological trauma, or psychotrauma, is an invisible injury caused by an event that is beyond a person's ability to cope with it," explains clinical psychologist Johanna Rozenblum. "It can be an accident, an assault, abuse, sudden bereavement, but also more insidious violence such as harassment or psychological control. It is not so much the event itself, but the way in which it is experienced that determines the trauma."

Shame, fear of judgment, guilt... these negative emotions can push the victim to withdraw into silence after a trauma. But remaining silent and bottled up one's emotions can worsen the condition. "Repressing trauma can exacerbate anxiety, promoting disorders such as depression, sleep disorders, or somatic pain. The body retains the memory of what is not expressed: this is sometimes called "traumatic memory." The body remembers, and the trauma can manifest itself through flashbacks, disproportionate reactions, or even psychosomatic illnesses (chronic pain, respiratory problems, gynecological problems in cases of sexual violence)," continues the specialist.

In the short term, silence, or not being cared for appropriately, by the right people, can lead to: anxiety, stupor, hypervigilance, nightmares, dissociation (feeling of being "out of it"), irritability, insomnia, etc. In the long term, these are attachment disorders, isolation, addictions, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even certain chronic pathologies that can occur if the trauma remains untreated.

Talking about trauma is often the first step in overcoming it. "Putting words to the pain is already regaining power over what has escaped us. Verbal storytelling helps to restructure the experience, to escape emotional chaos. Talking also activates the parasympathetic system (the one that has a calming effect), and allows the person to reconnect with themselves, with others, and with a continuity of meaning. We talk about "integrating the life cycle" of the trauma," explains the psychologist.

However, finding the right person to talk to isn't so simple, and there's a risk of reactivating a wound that's still painful. "Trauma affects trust and intimacy. Poor listening, judgment, minimization, or even just clumsiness can reactivate the wound; this is called secondary victimization. It's essential to confide in someone who is caring, capable of active listening, and respects the person's pace," continues Johanna Rozenblum.

Therefore, those around you must remain attentive, always listening with kindness and respecting the victim's pace. That is to say, it is important, in addition to avoiding guilt and criticism, not to be too insistent, not to force the person to talk.

Turning to a specialist trained in psychotrauma and victimology may be considered. “Therapy allows you to explore and soothe trauma in a safe setting.” Several approaches are possible and will depend on the trauma, its intensity and the victim's history.

• EMDR (eye, movement, desensitization reprocessing) or neuroemotional integration through eye movements is a therapy that has proven itself in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders and is recognized by the WHO. EMDR uses bi-alternating sensory stimulation (right-left). It involves reproducing eye movements during sleep in order to reprocess traumatic memories and put them back in their place;
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps work on thoughts associated with trauma and reduce the intensity of emotions;
• Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapies are suitable for complex or old traumas.

Finally, support groups can also help, depending on the personality, to overcome psychological trauma. “Sharing with others who have had similar experiences can relieve shame and isolation and create a sense of belonging. It is a form of mutual recognition, of repair through speech and collective empathy,” says Johanna Rozenblum.

But the psychologist warns against the effects of emotional contagion or reactivation of trauma. "It is therefore better to join a support group supervised by an association or other organization that will ensure safe discussions with the help of health professionals."