Empathetic Witness
A few months ago, I obtained my Certified Trauma Support Specialist (CTSS) from the Arizona Trauma Institute. It was important to me to understand my own healing journey.
One huge take away was the different types of stress. Beneficial, acute and toxic. As a survivor I already felt like an expert on toxic stress. 😊 Here is a brief description of all three and in no way is an all-encompassing list.
Beneficial stress – this occurs when you are at work and up against a deadline. Or engaging in physical activity and start sweating.
Acute stress - your heart races before a job interview, then settles once it's over. A near-miss car accident, or a scary diagnosis call.
Toxic stress - long term changes to the brain and body, impacts all physiological function, and getting pushed past your body’s limit.
Understanding these categories helped me finally make sense of what happened in my own body.
Trauma is created when the body experiences more change in the environment than it can manage. My body experienced this because of sexual abuse and domestic violence. I spent a lot of time in and out of therapy. But the shame and guilt held me back from doing the work for years. It wasn’t until I was ready, that I was truly able to process the trauma and start the healing process.
Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness. i.e. therapist, partner, friend. Someone who listens without judgment. Someone safe.
Call to Action: Be an empathetic witness to someone. It can change their life.
With love and resilience,
Shannon Nicole
Shannon Nicole is an author, speaker, and advocate. To read more of her work, visit her website or check out her books, 'The Long Goodbye' and 'Silent No More'.
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