970: Sanctuary Trauma and Anxiety: When Safe Spaces Turn Distressing

In today's episode, Gina discusses the concept of sanctuary trauma, a form of trauma that occurs when an individual's safe space becomes a location of further trauma. Trauma is often involved in the development of mental health problems, including anxiety. Listen in for details about sanctuary trauma, including its affects on the psyche as well as ways to heal from this unique form of anxiety provoking experience.

Book from today's show:

Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma

by Peter A. Levine

https://amzn.to/45ybAae

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What is anxiety?

Quote:

Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering.

– Peter Levine

Chapters

0:00:24 Introduction and the concept of sanctuary trauma

0:02:16 Peter Levine's perspective on trauma

0:13:57 Recognizing the Effects of Sanctuary Trauma

0:15:23 Seeking Help and Support for Healing Sanctuary Trauma

0:17:18 Strategies for Healing Sanctuary Trauma

Long Summary

In this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, we delve into the concept of sanctuary trauma and its relationship to anxiety. As Peter Levine once said, it is imperative to understand and heal trauma. That's exactly what we aim to explore in this episode.

We begin by introducing the term "sanctuary trauma," coined by Dr. Steven Silver. Sanctuary trauma occurs when individuals seek solace and support in what they believe to be a safe environment, only to encounter more trauma. We acknowledge that many of our listeners may have experienced this type of trauma themselves, and we want to validate their experiences.

Trauma is subjective and varies from person to person. We provide a psychological definition of trauma and sanctuary, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals who have experienced trauma. Unfortunately, betrayal often goes hand in hand with sanctuary trauma and can shatter a person's sense of safety and security.

Throughout the episode, we provide examples of situations where sanctuary trauma can arise, such as mistreatment or dismissal by healthcare providers. We highlight the profound emotional distress that sanctuary trauma can cause, including feelings of hurt, anger, and confusion. This type of trauma can have long-lasting effects, leading to issues such as anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We dive deeper into the connection between sanctuary trauma and its impact on individuals' ability to form healthy relationships and connections. This perpetuates anxiety and trauma, leading some individuals to turn to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms, which can escalate into addiction, causing further harm. Sanctuary trauma can also manifest in physical health problems, such as headaches, sleep disturbances, and chronic pain.

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