The Secrets to Trauma Healing : Psychotherapy for Mental Health through Ayurveda

What is Trauma?

"Trauma refers to the experiences that cause intense physical and psychological stress reactions. Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being." - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative, 2012

If you are specifically thinking about something, someone or some memory, then keep reading. Let this article be your holding hands.

Different Types of Trauma

Broadly, trauma falls into these categories;

• Acute Trauma - A single discrete event causing a short-term fear, such as a car accident or assault.
• Chronic Trauma - Repeated prolonged exposure to situations such as abuse and neglect.
• Complex Trauma - Multiple, interconnected experiences of situations like childhood abuse, domestic violence
• Collective Trauma - A situation of shared traumatic experience affecting communities or groups that occurred from war or natural disasters.

You face a traumatic experience when the situation you dislike creates an overwhelming emotional or physical experience from prolonged or repeated exposure. These situations can affect your daily life, relationships or well-being.

If you have ever experienced trauma, then you know its unmistakable feel. The intensity of emotions you feel from a trauma, cannot be felt by the fear of anything else.

"Trauma is a fear of something that you cannot point and show. In many, it is that heavy feeling they cannot define", says Dr Naveen Chandran, CMO at Nirva Health and a Smriti Meditation (Ayurveda psychotherapy) expert.

The Ripple Effects of Trauma: How They Show in The Body

When you experience trauma, the influence extends far beyond the initial event. It leaves an indestructible mark on various aspects of your life.

1. Emotional Turbulence

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fear
• Anger
• Guilt and Shame

2. Cognitive Fog

• Memory Issue
• Dissociation
• Hypervigilance
• Concentration Difficulties
• Rumination

3. Physical Consequences

• Chronic Pain
• Fatigue
• Sleep Disturbances
• Immune System Suppression

4. Behavioural Patterns

• Substance Abuse
• Self-Destructive Behaviours
• Avoidance
• Hyperarousal
• Dissociative Behaviours

5. Social Withdrawal

• Relationship Difficulties
• Social Isolation
• Trust Issue
• Intimacy Challenges
• Feelings of Abandonment

Sometimes, the effect of trauma can go beyond explanation. 

"Trauma does not just show as emotional and mental disturbances. Sometimes, when you are struggling with an unexplained health condition or challenges in life, you may not even realise that the issue can be rooted in a past traumatic experience", says Dr Naveen Chandran.

Note: Trauma can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstances.

Did You Know?

Around 70% of people globally experience potentially traumatic events during their lifetime. - WHO (World Health Organisation)

‘Seeking Help is a Sign of Strength!’

The Science Behind Trauma : What Happens in Your Body

Trauma or a traumatic event is not something that you can leave behind or forget about and move on with life, if someone tells you that. Maybe you can put it behind your head, but the scars of trauma are hidden in different parts of the body.

"The body keeps the score" - Dr.Bessel van der Kolk ,author of ‘How to Heal from Trauma’

So, what happens when trauma rewires the brains and bodies? How does it impact your entire life - knowingly or unknowingly? 

Understanding the science behind trauma is crucial for healing and growth.

1. Neurobiological Changes 

Your brain changes its function and structure when you react to trauma. It shows amygdala hyperactivity. The amygdala is the part of the brain that processes emotions, motivation and memory. Trauma sensitises this part of the brain, which leads to exaggerated responses to fear.

2. Hippocampal Damage

Hippocampus is a small part of the brain that plays a key role in memory, learning and emotions. Trauma pierces this area of the brain and impairs its function. This affects memory consolidation and emotional regulation.

3. Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the ability of brain cells to change its direction and connections for good. However, trauma reorganises these brain connections leading to dysfunctional patterns.

4. Stress Response

When you experience repeated trauma, it affects communication between the brain and other parts of the body through stress hormones. This connection is called the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal) axis. Hyperactivation of the axis releases imbalanced levels of stress hormones.

These hormones that cause an imbalance in the neurotransmission (small electrical and chemical firing between the brain cells that help in the functioning of the whole body) are;

• Cortisol: Elevation disrupts sleep, mood and energy.
• Adrenaline: Increase causes hypervigilance and anxiety.
• Serotonin: Decrease causes depression and mood dysregulation.
• Dopamine: Improper levels influence the reward processing and motivation parts of the brain. 

All these changes in the brain chemicals cause changes in the body.

Look out for some of the consequences.

1. Physiological

• Unwanted inflammation occurs in the body and brain which leads to an increased disease risk.
• A suppressed immune system increases vulnerability to illnesses.
• Gastrointestinal issues are caused by the direct effect of adrenal hormones. Trauma affects gut health in 50% of the cases.
• Cardiovascular Diseases from constant stress trigger.

2. Psychological and Emotional Impact

• Difficulty in managing emotions, leading to mood swings and instability.
• Dissociation of thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations.
• Exaggerated startle response and constantly 'on the lookout' for danger.
• Feeling guilty, shame and always blaming myself.

3. Epigenetic Effects

• Altered gene expression causes almost permanent changes in stress response and resilience.
• Traumacan also move through generations.

So, it is essential to understand that, to support anyone who has suffered from trauma or is suffering from traumatic experiences, something needs to change from the inside - to heal and start anew!

Some of the best methods of healing and recovery before grabbing on the anti-depressant pills and unending talk therapies are;

• Training the brain to promote relaxation and regulation.
• Enhancing self-awareness and emotional regulation.
• Refraining from thoughts and behaviours.
• Processing traumatic memories by recognising and awareness rather than shutting them out.

That is why Nirva helps you recognise your trauma before finding solutions.

Ayurvedic Psychotherapy : Smriti Meditation

In the science of Ayurveda, mental health stands out as an important aspect of self-care. Starting from daily routine to seasonal routine and overcoming health conditions, practises for physical and mental healing are given utmost importance.

So, smriti meditation is one of the most effective ayurvedic psychotherapy through memories that help you heal your body from trauma. 

What is Smriti Meditation?

Smriti Meditation, word by word, 'Smrit' means memory, in the Sanskrit language. Smriti meditation is a guided interactive meditation technique developed based on 'satvavajaya chikitsa'.

'Satvavajaya' means a type of treatment that ponders on the 'satva' of a person. Satva is the essence of one's mind. So, it's a  'mind-control treatment', a unique approach to healing that focuses on the mind and body. Sattvavajaya Chikitsa emphasises the interconnectedness of the mind and body. Its believed in Ayurveda that imbalances in the mind can manifest as physical ailments. 

Smriti meditation therapy goes beyond just the mind and incorporates spiritual well-being into the healing process.

“Smriti meditation is about listening to people, going through everything that they have to say, even things they have never thought were dug deep in them, such as the events from their past. So,  by venturing into the past, we might hold the key to unlocking a healthier and happier present”, says Dr Naveen Chandran when asked about how different smriti meditation is different from conventional psychotherapies.

Other Ayurvedic Therapies for Improving Mental Health

Ayurveda is a complete mind-body system of medicine. Science gives equal importance to spiritual healing as getting cured of physical ailments.  That is why, whenever you choose to go for ayurvedic treatment for any kind of health issue, experts combine medicinal supplements, diet and lifestyle modifications with mind-healing therapies. That is why yoga and meditation are also combined with Ayurvedic remedies.

Some of the best therapies in Ayurveda that are considered for holistic trauma healing are;

1. Panchakarma: Detoxification Therapies

While panchakarma is generally considered a body detoxification or gut cleanse therapy, it is equally effective on the mind.

If you wish to know in detail about Ayurvedic panchakarma therapy and the science behind it, then don't skip this article -  Experience the Whiff of Panchakarma: Ayurvedic Detoxification Made Simple.

When you undergo panchakarma therapy, your brain reduces the release of the stress hormone cortisol. 

You can try these panchakarma therapies for mental wellness;

• Abhyanga (Oil massage)
• Shirodhara (Warm oil on forehead)
• Swedana (Sweating therapy)
• Basti (Herbal medicated enema)
• Nasya (Nasal and Head cleansing)

Connect with Ayurveda experts at Nirva to learn more about these.

2. Balancing Vata Dosha 

Dosha is the bio energy in the body which controls different functions. Vata is the one which controls the movement. Here, movement is not just the body movement, but also related to all the minute physiological processing the the body.

When you experience an imbalance in vata dosha, your mind becomes more sensitive to trauma symptoms. So some of the tips to manage vata imbalance are;

• Consuming warm and nourishing foods
• Practising self-massage with warm oils
• Practising grounding with yoga and mindful meditation

3. Herbal Support

Some herbal supplements act well on your brain cells. Herbs show different positive effects on brain function, such as improving neurogenesis (new brain cell growth), being neuroprotective, and being antioxidative, as well as the ability to improve cognitive functioning.

Two of the best herbs for mental health care;

• Shankapushpi (morning glory)
• Jatamansi (muskroot)

4. Pranayama and Yoga

Studies show that different components of yoga  such as breathing exercises (pranayama), physical postures, and mindfulness meditation show positive neurological function.

While practising meditation continuously, individuals start to willingly open up and address potentially disturbing and upsetting thoughts and emotions in a non-judgemental way.

If you are curious to find out more about how Ayurveda and yoga can help you enhance your mental health, then take a peek at this article - Finding Balance Within: Ayurveda and Yoga for Mental Health is the Key.

Summary

Healing from trauma requires effort. The first step towards that effort is to recognise the trauma. The effect of past trauma does not always come with symptoms related to mental health issues. Understand what is really going on in your body, may it be physical or mental, and try to be compassionate towards yourself.

If you are finding it difficult to cope with any mental disturbances, consider talking to our Smriti meditation experts.