Understanding Trauma - Part 1

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Tim begins a new series about Trauma that draws on 20 years of experience in this field. It provides the latest research as well as insights gained over years of working with people with trauma.

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[TimFletcher]

💜 Please be aware of scammers impersonating Tim or the Tim Fletcher team! We do not provide any phone numbers in the comments and Tim does not chat privately with viewers. We will never ask you to join us on a messaging app. When in doubt, reach out to us via our website at timfletcher.ca. Stay safe and scam-aware. With Love, The Tim Fletcher Team.

[MissiJade]

I have been judged, shamed, and treated appallingly by medical professionals because I had a pain killer addiction to opiates and I for the first time in my life understand why. I have experienced several big T trauma and lots of little T traumas and I have isolated and destroyed myself. I have now been sober for five years and my diagnosis CPTSD is beginning to make sense and that I am not a bad person. I am so sensitive that I couldn’t harm a mosquito and I have been living with so much shame. Thank you so much for this unbelievable opportunity to watch this video. I am wishing so many people who are healing so much strength and love ❤️

[ArashTheGreat]

Holy cow! 39, male here. I'm watching this series after reading Dr. Gabor Maté's book. I'm just starting to realize how much my complex trauma has ruined me and my romantic relationships so far. I pray to my God so he can help me heal.
God bless all of you who are on the same path.

[michelle-gcut]

At 67 I am barely getting to understand what happened to me and how it affected me. I used work as a shield to hide my pain. Now, retired I have no where to hide. A shower of memories has invaded my space and became overwhelming. I finally started therapy.

[Joel-uvtg]

Suffering from cPTSD and betrayal trauma right now. I've said in therapy "nothing that bad has happened to me" many times.... Emotional neglect is the answer. Thanks @Tim Fletcher

[anchmcle]

Just remember you have a right to your boundaries, and forgiveness is free, trust is earned. 💕

[makaylahollywood]

Reading "It's Not You" by Dr. Ramani Durvalsula, a book about antagonistic people. I was raised in a dysfunctional environment that continued through adulthood. Now, alone but healing more and more each day. It's a long journey.

[pookiewhite]

A friend in recovery taught me “Drugs are not my problem. They are my solution and that’s my problem.”

[erinm]

Having both PTSD & CPTSD is a hell like no other.

[amaragrace]

"Trauma prevention should begin at the first prenatal visit." ~Gabor Mate 

"Sensitive children" - who are more easily wounded by traumatic events in childhood as Tim points out - are those who have been deprived/traumatized in the womb/during the Primal Period (conception through first year of life; when the foundational architecture of the nervous system & all the adaptive systems are constructed); they enter 'childhood' with complex trauma already. 

Everything presented about childhood development occurring in response to needs met or not... by the environment around them influencing/in-forming development... is also True for the (initial/foundational/primary development) womb environment. Think of mother's fight/flight/freeze/fawn body chemistry crossing the placenta - &/or neglect/deprivation i.e. food/responsive attention/toxic exposure - as a major developmental 'contribution'. 
For the first 10 weeks after conception, our 'wiring' is forming (nervous system & sensory apparatus comes from the Ectoderm layer of embryogenesis, so it begins forming & organizing very very early); by 10 weeks gestation all body structures are present; subsequently everything/all sensory & adaptive/regulation systems' organs are simply refining for the continuing ~30 weeks of pregnancy in response to environmental direction/blueprint... all our 'wires are getting connected". When that environment is often, mostly or always "adversity" (baby experiences *everything* symbiotically; if mother suffers, baby suffers), the structures are in-formed to the correspondingly "appropriate" functioning; the "wiring is being connected" according to those instructions. Because survival is one of our main default imperatives.

Repetitive or constant adversity/ disruption of 'normal'/optimal development before birth = 'normal'/optimal development cannot/does not take place; development appropriate for survival does = a "sensitive/hyper-sensitive child.

"Trauma Prevention should begin during pre-conception/initial Human reproduction education." ~me

[joelthomastr]

"Complex trauma is the cluster of unhealthy defence or coping mechanisms that a person developed because they were in a relationship where, on a repeated or ongoing basis, they either felt unsafe or a basic need was not met"

Anything missing?

[james]

These talks may just be the thing that saves my life and I never knew I needed them

[PatriceVC]

If you are reading this comment, I love you immensely and I’m sorry for not researching more in order to better understand what you’ve been through and what you continue to experience. You are worthy of love, and incredibly lovable. I’m so sad to know how much shame, pain and confusion you experience almost daily as a result of neglect, abuse and harm brought onto you throughout your life. I believe in you, and you are the best thing that ever happened to me.

[naomistull]

Anyone else here after Theo Von's podcast with Tim? Thank you for all your are doing Tim!

[kellytobin]

A huge thank you, Tim, for the unusual inclusion of Medical Trauma. In disability community, we discuss this highly disregarded issue.

[lioness]

A lot of addicts with childhood trauma use drugs or alcohol to not feel.
Some use it to be able to feel.
My father had CPTSD, my grandmother forced him to watch while Tirpitz was sunk.
2000 men, screaming for their lives.
He became asailor around 15, tookto alcohol early, andvoila, here I am.
CPTSD and fibromyalgia.
Never had any of the help I really needed, so I took to understanding.
Only today I found out that it was me healing myself.

[Atreides]

Everyone ever should have to take this class.

[lawrencenickerson]

I'm 28 and I've been dealing with complex trauma my entire life unfortunately I was always too bold to admit it but i'm thankful for this series because it's helping me to understand why I am the way I am and how to better help my children be the best people they can be thank you tim

[inspiredafter]

I'm 69. So obvious now to see why I am the way I am...daily little t trauma all through my childhood. Youngest of 6 and soooo many things not right. So glad there's a whole series to get me through the pain that is rumbling in my guts right now. I thought I was doing quite well but...I found the man of my dreams 4 years ago but I'm so close to walking out. He triggers me every bloody day!!! He's 67 and had so much little t trauma too. What hope is there to save it. Fingers crossed Tim and this series can save us!

[Carlaburgess]

I started watching this series somewhere around episode 23. I’ve sent these episodes to several people who have also been impacted by childhood trauma. Tim, thank you so much for all making this available to us. It’s made an enormous, positive impact on my understanding.