It’s interesting to note how many trauma victims tend to come to life or even revert back to times that come close to them reliving their traumatic experiences. In a way, it almost seems as though there is a bit of pleasure that occurs from doing so. This might be seen in cases like:
- A war veteran who only becomes animated when recanting stories of when his friends died in battle.
- A victim of sexual trauma turns to prostitution in her adult years.
- A child abuse victim who continues in abuse relationships in her adult years.
Freud referred to this as a compulsion to repeat, and he argued that participating as a victim of trauma over and over again somehow causes people to believe that they may eventually resolve the situation and even master it.
Still, it doesn’t seem like the right solution to treat trauma. Even the best trauma therapists understand that too much fixation on the traumatic event during treatment is likely to lead to preoccupation with the event and not enough focus on healing. The question remains, why does this type of behavior occur? It almost seems as though there is an addiction to trauma.
What are Attractors?
Attractors are things that are supposed to make us feel alive, or make us feel better. However, in the case of many trauma victims, it seems as though their attractors are there to make them feel worse, or remain stuck in their traumatic events.
In his book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk talks in detail about the chemical changes that take place within a person’s body when adjusting to stimuli; even negative stimuli. Activities that are considered unenjoyable by most people can eventually bring pleasure when they’re practiced enough. He concluded that any type of attractor – even a negative one – causes the brain to secrete a higher level of endorphins, which is like morphine in the body. When that chemical is not experienced, it can result in the same type of withdrawal that a drug addict has when he’s not using.
It’s possible that in a way, trauma can become addictive to those who are victims of it. However, that doesn’t mean that it cannot be healed.
The Role of Serotonin
Low serotonin levels have been linked to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as to other types of mental issues. In tests done on monkeys, those with higher serotonin levels usually came out to be the leaders of their group, while those with lower levels of serotonin were docile and easily dominated. Currently, many practitioners believe that the way to alter serotonin levels is through medication, but that doesn’t always need to be the solution. As a matter of fact, many of the most popular anti-depressants can actually cause more harm than good.
It is possible to form an “addiction” to trauma. However, it is also possible to break that addiction with the right trauma therapy. Too many people feel that they need to remain in their traumas and that there’s no hope for them to recover. Instead, they look for ways to cope that are often detrimental to their well-being.
If you would like to recover from your trauma, I can help you with the right kind of trauma therapy that focuses on the underlying issues and your healing. Contact me to make an appointment.
