Why do we Reenact Trauma?

When trauma occurs, our brain and body often react in ways that help us cope with the situation. Some people may also experience symptoms such as fear or anxiety afterwards. However, if these symptoms continue for a long time after the initial traumatic event, it can be considered a disorder or trauma-related stress response. Late-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur when there are no adequate coping mechanisms available to deal with the pain of past experiences. In some cases, reenacting a trauma may be one way of coping with these painful memories by allowing survivors to feel in control again-amongst other theories. There is no "clear-cut" answer to why reenactment of trauma happens but, there are several theories to explain the pattern of individuals having repeat occurrences of certain traumas throughout their lives.

Reenacting a trauma can result in a person either becoming the victim or victimizer.

In this way, trauma reenactment is similar to playing out roles such as Dungeons & Dragons. When we play-act these roles, we experience a sense of mastery over our environment and ourselves; however, if these roles are too powerful or negative (such as being abused), they may become stuck in our mind as part of our identity. This can lead to difficulties with relationships and self-esteem later on in life because these identities are based on experiences that were not chosen by us but forced upon us by others' actions or words.

People seek attachment in the face of danger. When there is no access to comfort, victims might turn to their tormentors or, to what feels normal.

This can be seen in children who have been abused by their parents; they sometimes grow up and repeat this cycle with their own children or, on the contrary attract abusive partners in their lives.

Our brains are meaning-makers therefore, when an individual understands the meaning of the trauma and why it occurred many of the maladaptive symptoms can go away.

We are meaning-makers. When an individual understands the meaning of the trauma, how it happened and why it occurred many of the maladaptive symptoms can go away. EMDR is often used for individuals who have experienced trauma. The brain often does not properly process events that happen to us therefore, EMDR is used. Once the event is fully processed symptoms of the event tent to dissipate.

The brain has a way of making sense out of things that don't make sense by putting together pieces from different experiences and creating a new memory with them so when you reenact your trauma you are actually creating new memories that feel real but aren't necessarily true because they were created during a time when your mind wasn't functioning properly due to being traumatized.

One possible theory is that we reenact trauma because we have not resolved it and our defense mechanisms kick in to protect us.

Defense mechanisms are unconscious reactions to stress or anxiety, which help us feel safe or secure. These reactions can be healthy or unhealthy--they're useful when they help you cope with stressful situations, but when they become habitual and your main method of coping with life, then there's a problem.

Defense mechanisms can also prevent us from facing reality as it really is: if someone gets hurt at work and uses denial as their defense mechanism (e.g., "The boss didn't mean to yell at me"), they may not realize how much damage was done by the situation until later on down the line; meanwhile they continue working under false assumptions about what happened until some other event occurs that forces them into facing reality without having prepared themselves beforehand.

Some people believe we reenact trauma because of an instinctual drive to achieve mastery over our fear or the traumatic situation.

By repeating it, we can gain a sense of control over what happened and learn from our mistakes.

The theory of achieving mastery suggests that when we experience something traumatic, our brains may be wired to replay this event in order for us to learn from it and improve our chances for survival in the future. For example, if you got stuck in quicksand as a child but managed to get out safely, you might be more likely than someone who hasn't had this experience before going into quicksand again as an adult (or choosing not to).

Another theory suggests that reenactment is actually a way for people with PTSD symptoms or anxiety disorders like OCD or panic attacks to attempt protecting themselves from future danger by doing things like avoiding certain places where they feel anxious.

Conclusion

There is no “clear cut” answer to why clinicians see a pattern of similar traumas in some patient’s lives-although there are many theories. When you start to notice a pattern and start exploring your individual trauma further- you are more inclined to decipher the reasoning behind the pattern, instead of continuing the trauma by being the victim or victimizer. Through therapy, this exploration can take place so that you can STOP repeating the past and instead move forward to a happier and healthier future.

If you would like to explore your trauma, process events that have happened to you, and learn how to stop repeating the past you can schedule an appointment today at Burch Tree Counseling Center.