Overcoming
Barriers
Introduction
People just like us – Bible characters.
We do not have the corner on the market.
The Bible is full of examples of godly people
who had bad things happen to them.
Introduction
• Shipwrecked (a day and a
night in the deep)
• Sawn asunder
• Beheaded (Rev. 7)
• Incest (Amnon and Tamar)
• Betrayal by family (Absalom
tried to overthrow his father
as king)
• Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach,
Abednego, Ethiopian –
castrated (Daniel 1 and Acts
8)
• Rape (Tamar)
• Beatings (39 stripes on
several occasions)
• Starvation to point of
cannibalism (Jerusalem
besieged twice)
• Death of first born ( at birth
of Jesus)
• One son kills another –
Cain/Abel; Absalom/Amnon
• Financial reversals (Job)
• Death of 10 children at once
(Job)
• To name a few things (Heb.
11)
Introduction
Yet, God’s people moved past these things.
How?
– They trusted God.
– They looked for a better life beyond.
– They trusted that God is the avenger of
evil. Vengeance is His.
– Prayer, Trust, Hope, and knowing that He is
Faithful .
Introduction
The ways of Satan continue into our day.
People are highly resilient and able to bounce
back from just about anything.
But, traumatic experiences can have a severe
and long-lasting effect well into adulthood if
they are left unresolved.
Introduction
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Extreme experiences that can make a person
regardless of age, feel helpless or that disrupt a
sense of safety and security include:
Sexual
• Neglect
Physical or verbal abuse • Bullying
Domestic violence
• Serious illness
Unstable or unsafe
• Intrusive medical
environment
procedures
Separation from a
parent(s)
Introduction
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Many survive childhood without such
experiences, yet in adulthood may encounter
trauma:
Domestic violence
• Military
Robbery
• Witnessing a
Assault
untoward event
Rape
• Accidents
Introduction
In surviving an event, the process is to try to
stay alive.
But, in the process of flight/fight/freeze the
emotions of the moment are often shutdown
in favor of staying alive.
Introduction
The person lives, but the emotional response
gets locked and remains in “unfinished
business” tucked in the back of the person’s
mind.
“Intrusive thoughts, dreams, and flashbacks”
are frequently unwelcome invader.
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Attachment And Relationships
– Especially if the trauma is in a family setting, the
close relationship with a caregiver cannot be
overestimated. It is in these bonding
relationships that trust is learned, emotions are
regulated, interaction with the world is defined,
perceptions of the world as safe or unsafe, and
understanding of ones’ self worth.
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Attachment And Relationships
– When these systems are disrupted, self-image
and world view can be significantly shifted.
– The results: difficulty maintaining a strong
healthy bond with caregiver/partner. More
vulnerable to stress, trouble controlling and
expressing emotions, violent or inappropriate
responses to situations, potential problems in
relationships and friendships.
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Physical Health: Body and Brain
– When one is stuck in fear, constant or extreme
stress, the immune system and body’s stress
responses are thrown off balance.
– Results can be seen in: panic attacks, rapid
breathing/heart pounding,
headaches/stomachaches, chronic physical
conditions/problems, risky behaviors that
compound these conditions.
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Emotional Responses
– Difficulty identifying, expressing and
managing emotions.
– Due to internalizing and/or externalizing
stress reactions may experience significant
depression, anxiety, or anger.
– Emotional responses may be unpredictable
or explosive.
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Emotional Responses
– May be periods of trembling, anger,
sadness or avoidance due to unfinished
business.
– Cognitive distortions - If the world is
“unsafe” (learned or perceived from the
trauma) then even loved ones “can’t be
trusted to protect you”.
– Easily overwhelmed.
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Dissociation
– Disconnect or mentally separate self from
the experience.
– May feel surreal or “like they are on the
ceiling or somewhere else watching.”
– Frequent “spacing out, daydreaming, not
attentive.”
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Cognition
– Feeling like he/she is in a fog, “fuzzy.”
– Difficulty thinking clearly, reasoning or
problem solving.
– May be incorrectly identified as “learning
disabled.”
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Self-Concept
– Common feelings: shame, guilt, low self-esteem,
poor self-image.
– May report feeling like “damaged goods”
– This can result in poor boundaries (once a
boundary is violated, it is difficult to know where
the boundary is in an impulsive mind).
– With weak self-value, hope and purpose for the
future can be skewed.
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Long Term Health Consequences
– There is a connection between unresolved
trauma and promiscuity, heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, hyperglycemia,
hypoglycemia. The connection perhaps is
tied to the “weak organ theory” (i.e. the
weakest link in a chain breaks first,
unhealthy patterns in self-care can have
long term consequences).
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Long Term Health Consequences
– Low self-image can result in low impulse
control, risky behaviors or “being able to
be talked into things easily” (tendency to
live in the extremes of people pleasing vs
people avoidance).
Aftermath Of Unresolved Trauma
Economic Impact
– Data from a variety of sources estimate the
annual cost of trauma, abuse and neglect is
$103.8 billion (ER, Care Centers,
Medications, Therapy, Legal, Fatalities,
etc.).
– Intangible costs: pain, sorrow, reduced
quality of life to survivors and their
families.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Acknowledge and recognize the trauma for
what it is but “Our light affliction is but for a
moment”
– Some spend years minimizing the event or
dismissing it by pretending it did not happen.
– Succumbing to feelings of guilt or self-blame.
– This may be a “normal response to an
abnormal situation.”
– Healing come with acknowledgement. So,
does pain. There is no growth without pain.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Reclaim control – Believe God is in charge
– Feelings of helplessness can carry well into
adulthood and can help a person respond
to life as a “perpetual victim”.
– When in a victim role, the past is in control
of the present.
– But, when the pain of the past is faced and
resolved, the present is controlled by you.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Reclaim control – Believe God is in charge
–Surrounding the event of the trauma, a
series of old defenses and crutches
evolved to help navigate the trauma.
–Learning to let go of the defenses and
crutches and learning new ways of
acceptance can help to reclaim control
in one’s life now and heal the pain.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Seek support and do not isolate yourself
(Romans 12:15; James 5:16; Eph. 4:2).
– A natural instinct in trauma is to withdraw
from others, but this only makes things
worse.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Seek support and do not isolate yourself
(Romans 12:15; James 5:16; Eph. 4:2).
– A big part of healing is to connect with
other people (peers in trauma,
understanding family, therapist, support
groups). You are not alone. Normalizing
responses to abnormal situations is vital in
stabilizing the trauma and moving past it.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Take care of your health (Romans 12:1,2).
– Your ability to cope with stress will
increase if you are healthy.
– Be kind to yourself – plenty of rest, wellbalanced diet, regular exercise are in order.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Take care of your health (Romans 12:1,2).
– Sometimes, when trauma happens to a
smaller person he/she gets stuck on the
need to be “big” so the trauma does not
recur. “Big” often means overeating and
weighing more.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Learn the true meaning of acceptance and
letting go (book of Philippians esp. 4:13)
– Just because you accept something does
not mean you like it or agree with it.
– Acceptance means you have decided what
you are going to do with it.
– You can decide to let it rule your life or you
can decide to let it go.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Learn the true meaning of acceptance and
letting go (book of Philippians esp. 4:13)
– Letting go means no longer allowing your
bad memories and feelings of the past to
rob you of living a good life now.
– You will likely need to revisit the past from
time to time, but you do not have to live
there.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Replace bad habits with good ones (Eph.
4:22-24)
– “Reaction formation” can occur in many
forms as a coping strategy when feelings
become too hard to bear.
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Negativity
Mistrust of others
Alcohol/drugs
Promiscuity
Somatic illnesses
Other, like cutting, acting out or acting in, etc.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Replace bad habits with good ones (Eph.
4:22-24)
– Maladaptive behaviors may have served to
appease the initial trauma, but when used
as crutches now they can help one to avoid
addressing and healing the pain and
trauma of the past experience(s).
• Support groups can help with developing
new tools that actually work.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Replace bad habits with good ones (Eph.
4:22-24)
– Maladaptive behaviors may have served to
appease the initial trauma, but when used
as crutches now they can help one to avoid
addressing and healing the pain and
trauma of the past experience(s).
• Therapist and/or wise counselors can reenforce the same.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Replace bad habits with good ones (Eph. 4:2224)
– Maladaptive behaviors may have served to
appease the initial trauma, but when used as
crutches now they can help one to avoid
addressing and healing the pain and trauma
of the past experience(s).
• Self-disclosure of thoughts and feelings in a
safe environment are critical to recovery.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Replace bad habits with good ones (Eph.
4:22-24)
– Be patient with yourself (James 5:8; Rom.
5:4).
• When one has been seriously hurt with
trauma, he/she can develop out of
control emotions, hopelessness, defense
mechanisms and warped perceptions
that are difficult to let go of.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Replace bad habits with good ones (Eph.
4:22-24)
– Be patient with yourself (James 5:8; Rom.
5:4).
• Things do get better – not by avoiding,
but by facing – stepping back – facing –
stepping back, etc. as new tools are
learned.
Seven Ways To Cope With Trauma
Replace bad habits with good ones (Eph.
4:22-24)
– Be patient with yourself (James 5:8; Rom.
5:4).
• Honor your progress, no matter how
small it may seem. Enough “little
victories” can result in winning the war
and putting the enemy in his place.
Conclusion
When the “unthinkable” happens, trauma
is the result for many
Some rebound rather quickly (3 out of 4)
with little to no help
1 out of 4 (25%) have enduring effects
Conclusion
The differences: the intensity, meaning,
duration and triggers associated with the
trauma.
People can and do get better. There is
hope. Recovery is possible.
Conclusion
Romans 12:12 – the answers for us are the
same for those who suffered trauma
throughout the entire Bible.
We are no different than they – the
solutions are the same for us and they
were for them!