Let’s talk about a “TRAUMA RESPONSE.” We’ve all seen this on social media recently and I want to clarify a few things. Number one: not everything is a trauma response. Number two: it’s not your place to tell someone else what is and isn’t their trauma response. A trauma response is exactly what it sounds like, it’s when we experience a traumatic event (or multiple) and develop a response which manifests as a behaviour. A trauma response often begins as a survival or safety mechanism. Therefore, what one person does once and a while, can be what another person does every single day to feel safe and secure. Or, what one person does mindlessly is what another people put endless thought into and concluded that it is their best option to be safe. A behaviour becomes a trauma response when it has a major impact on your life and often involves hypervigilance (which is when we are in a heightened state of stress because we are assessing for potential threats nearby) The need to constantly feel and look busy can be a response to a variety of different traumatic events. It’s possible that growing up, you would get in trouble or shamed for relaxing. It’s also possible that you would only receive love and praise from your parents when you were doing something productive or being a “good” kid. As an adult this can manifest in many different ways. For example, it can result in us always feeling the need to keep busy and be productive especially in relationships out of fear our partner won’t value us. It can also look like us trying to look busy all the time so our partner can “see our worth.” I am here to remind you that rest is okay, and a safe partner will never shame you for that, rather encourage it. If you struggle with rest I would recommend starting slow, while finding ways to regulate your emotions and remind yourself of your safety. Rest for 5 minutes a day, while engaging in a somatic exercise before hand to slowly show yourself that nothing bad will happen.

you productivity is NOT measured by other’s expectations. do not allow this pressure to make you pour from an empty cup. ❤️‍🩹 #traumarecovery #mentalhealthawareness #dontgiveup #healing #tiktokmademebuyit #keepgoing #suicidepreventionmonth #mentalhealth #selfcare #selfcareisforeveryone #anxietyawareness #depressionawearness

there is good reasoning for all that was meant to be left behind ❤️‍🩹 #traumahealing #traumarecovey #mentalhealthtiktok #selfcareisforeveryone #mentalhealthawareness #depressionawareness #mentalhealth #selfcare #anxietyrelief #keepgoing #tiktokmademebuyit #tiktokshop #tiktokshopfinds #tiktokshopfinds #recovery #healingjourney #healingjourney

Who else is healing this wounded part of their inner child in adulthood? 🥺 #innerchildhealing #innerchild #childhoodtrauma #childhood #productivity #toxicfamily #selfcare #mentalhealth #tiktokshop #tiktokmademebuyit #selfcaretips #keepgoing