Understanding Trauma and Stress
The Issue
Without understanding trauma, we are more likely to misinterpret trauma-related behaviors as willful, “sick,” or “crazy,” which can lead to ineffective, stigmatizing, and/ or punitive reactions towards trauma-impacted people.
The Solution
Understanding how trauma and stress can affect individual neurophysiology, relational interactions, and organizational functioning can help to reframe otherwise confusing, aggravating, or fear-producing behaviors. Shifting our perspective from “What is wrong with you?” to “What has happened to you?” can lead to more compassionate, strength-based, and effective responses to trauma-impacted people and communities that support healing and mitigate harm.
“Learning about the psychobiology of stress, toxic stress, and trauma is liberating for people. It gives us explanatory reasons for some of the puzzling behaviors we engage in and the feelings that can come to dominate us”
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