When we have trauma and painful experiences that haunt us for a long time, we often feel a compulsion to repeat the trauma. This may come in the form of a strategic response to memories of traumatic experiences and a desire to repeat it as the only way to respond to it. “Developed during moments of extreme stress or danger, these patterns serve as essential survival strategies, allowing individuals to navigate their trauma in the same way they knew. As adults, Recognizing that these once adaptive behaviors are no longer beneficial represents an important step toward healing. It is important to emphasize that this realization and the journey to becoming free from these patterns is not a result of blame on one’s character. should not be seen as a form of abuse, but rather as evidence of their resilience and strength,” wrote physician Andrea Evgeniou.
re-enact: This refers to the strategic response of trauma survivors to re-enact traumatic experiences through their behavior and relationships.
reflect on their past: This behavioral pattern is a way of reflecting on their past traumas and experiences, even if trauma survivors are not sure of their role in such recurrence.
gain control: This is often an attempt to gain control over the original traumatic experience. Through repetition and re-enactment, the survivor often tries to change the outcomes or feelings from the experiences.
giving rest: Contrary to what we believe, often the repetition of past trauma can be comforting to the survivor on some levels. This is because they are able to predict the outcome of such situations, rather than moving on to healthy new experiences where they are uncertain about the end result.
Excitement: Such reappraisal of past trauma can promote the release of neurochemicals such as adrenaline and dopamine. This creates a temporary feeling of euphoria or extreme stress that may make the person feel better.
