To the Most Important Person | Tiger and Horse
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It continues to be long.
※Notes on use
This is a record of a dialogue between a layperson and an AI, along with hypotheses. It is information intended to help the writer understand their situation; it is not something that can be generalized, nor is it a diagnosis by a professional.
If you are struggling, please do not hesitate to see a doctor immediately.
I will continue the consultation with the AI assistant.
While I certainly cannot take responsibility, I hope that if there is anyone else with similar scars remaining on their heels, this might be of some help.
Q. What is trauma in the first place?
A. Simply put, trauma is "a memory of a past experience that is strongly etched into the mind and body."
It is not just an unpleasant memory; it is something where the experience was so intense that the brain and body retain it as a reaction pattern.
Characteristics
1. Accompanied by strong emotions
・Intense emotions such as fear, sadness, and anger occur simultaneously
・The body also retains reactions (increased heart rate, muscle tension, stomach discomfort, etc.)
2. The way the memory remains is unique
・It is strongly remembered even after time has passed
・It may remain as sensory input, such as visual, auditory, or olfactory
・It can sometimes be stored in the brain as a "danger signal"
3. It is reproduced as a conditioned reflex
・When encountering similar situations or stimuli, the sensations from that time are unconsciously triggered
4. The body reacts even without conscious awareness
・Headaches, dizziness, lethargy, tension, etc., may occur
・It appears not just as a psychological feeling of "I don't like this," but as physical symptoms
Mechanism in the body and brain
・When experiencing strong stress or danger, the brain learns "stimulus = danger" for survival
・The amygdala (the part that feels fear) works more dominantly than the hippocampus (the part that organizes memory), so only the emotions and physical reactions remain first
・As a result, the body and brain easily enter alert mode again in the same situation
The heaviness in the head and lightheadedness felt during work or tasks may also be the result of past fatigue and experiences being reproduced as a "conditioned reflex."
Even if it is not at the level of PTSD medically, it occurs normally as a small trauma reaction in daily life.
Q. Is trauma an event, and PTSD a disease or disorder?
A. That understanding is roughly correct.
1. Trauma
・Meaning: A past experience or event strongly etched into the mind and body
・Refers to the "event itself" or the "reaction of the mind and body to the experience"
・Can happen to anyone
・Not necessarily a disease or disorder
(Example: Being scolded severely at school, long hours of grueling work at the office)
2. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)・Meaning: A mental illness or disorder that develops triggered by a traumatic experience
・Symptoms persist for a long period
・At a level that interferes with daily life
・Requires medical diagnosis
・Main symptoms:
1. Flashbacks of the traumatic experience (images and sensations suddenly resurface)
2. Avoidance behavior (avoiding scenes or places that trigger memories)
3. Hyperarousal state (strong sense of caution, becoming hypersensitive)
4. Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, etc.
Q. Is it impossible to erase trauma?
A. Basically, it is difficult to completely "erase" it. However, it is possible to soften its impact or bring it to a level where it does not interfere with daily life.1. Trauma is part of memory
・It is etched in the brain as "something that was experienced"
・The image is to make it easier to handle by organizing and re-learning it
・Trying to force yourself to forget it can sometimes increase the pain
2. Ways to reduce the impact of trauma
Psychological aspect
・Exposure therapy (getting used to flashbacks)
→ Practicing remembering in a safe environment
・Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
→ Changing the habits of thinking and reacting to traumatic experiences
・Mindfulness/Meditation
→ Bringing consciousness back to the "here and now" to make it harder to be swayed by past memories
Physical aspect
・Regulating the autonomic nervous system through exercise and breathing techniques
・Supporting the brain's recovery power with sufficient rest and nutrition
Environmental aspect
・Placing yourself in a safe and calm environment
・Talking to someone you trust
3. Result image
・The traumatic experience remains
・But flashbacks and strong physical symptoms can be reduced
・You can create a state where "it is not painful even if you remember it"
Q. According to recent trends,
・Looking back on the past
・Things at work that I am not good at or feel resistance to
While I feel a throbbing in my head or lightheadedness with these, on the other hand,
・Being attacked by anxiety about the future
・Feeling that going to work is a chore
In this case, I feel palpitations or loose bowels
Is the former caused by trauma, and the latter something close to what happens in a healthy state due to emotional fluctuations during the recovery period?
Is that the feeling?
A. I think that is an accurate perception.
1. Symptoms that appear due to the past or heavy work
・Headache, heaviness in the head, lightheadedness
・Cause: Memories of past stress or heavy loads are reproduced in the brain and body as a conditioned reflex
・Characteristics: Trauma and long-term fatigue patterns are involved
・The physical sensation is like "the body is unconsciously tense and reacting"
2. Symptoms that appear due to anxiety about the future or feeling that going to work is a chore
・Palpitations, mild gastrointestinal upset (loose bowels), mild physical tension
・Cause: Emotional fluctuations during the recovery period, normal stress response
・Characteristics: Not trauma, but a normal psychological reaction
・The physical sensation is like "the mind is sensitive, and the body is also reacting a little"
Points
・The former → Look back slowly, do not force processing, get used to it in stages
・The latter → Stabilization through rest, relaxation, and routine
…I somehow understand what is happening to me.
I thought that my mental weakness in feeling strong fear was causing this, but perhaps I just killed my emotions regarding the hardship of this work, and my body memorized it and endured until an alert was issued.
How can I overcome this?
I will continue to ask.
Next time ↓