What does one do in times of traumatic events such as being born, experiencing brutal war or violently losing your dearest ones in your arms?

Experiencing extreme physical and energetic states can cause different forms of trauma, disease & struggle. This, when possible, should go hand in hand with seeing them as learning experiences and integrating these lessons into the furthering of his or her life.

Now, this is not always easy, especially when the person who is traumatized is not well guided, misdirected or pushing through barriers, that may be illusionary and/or not necessarily needed or wanted.

This in turn further influences one’s (and one’s tribes’ (and the collective’s, even)) capacity, willingness, and ability required in order to move on, also influencing its level and quality of well-being, sleep, hormone regulation, energetic balances and overall levels of being able to take care of itself, its tribe and its/their dreams.

This topic is deeply profound, touching on the many layers of the human psyche and experience. Trauma can impact the body, mind, and spirit in interconnected ways, with ripples that span a person’s emotional and physiological systems, relationships, and sense of purpose. Let's explore this complex web in detail, focusing on both the cause-and-effect relationships and the long-term consequences for the individual.

1. Traumatic Events: War, Loss & Grief

Cause: Traumatic events such as experiencing brutal war, loss, or grief are overwhelming incidents that the human system often perceives as existential threats. These events can rupture the individual's fundamental sense of safety and stability.
Effect: This breach in safety results in heightened stress responses, where the nervous system becomes locked in a state of hypervigilance or hypoarousal. The body's protective mechanism is put on high alert, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to prepare for "fight, flight, or freeze."

Visual of Cause & Effect: The Ripple of Trauma

Traumatic Event (War, Loss, Grief)
          ↓
Break in Sense of Safety & Stability
          ↓
Activation of Stress Response System
          ↓
↑ Cortisol & ↑ Adrenaline (Overproduction)
          ↓
Disruption of Emotional Balance (Imbalance in Serotonin)
          ↓
Impairment in Basic Capacities (Sleep, Self-Care, Relationships)
          ↓
Long-Term Effects: Isolation & Spiritual Disconnection

2. Pushing Through Trauma: The Illusion of Resilience The individual, faced with the demands of life, may try to push through their trauma. This often takes the form of numbing, avoidance, or hyper-productivity, which can give an illusion of resilience. However, pushing through without addressing the core pain can lead to significant imbalances.

Cortisol and Adrenaline Overload: The persistent effort to "power through" keeps stress hormones elevated for prolonged periods. Chronic cortisol release affects immune function, digestive health, and can even lead to burnout.
Imbalanced Sleep Cycles: The dysregulated stress response disrupts the body's natural circadian rhythm. Insomnia or unrefreshing sleep are common consequences, which further compromise the body's ability to regulate emotions and rebuild from within.
- Cause: Disrupted sleep leads to an inability to restore physiological equilibrium.
- Effect: This exacerbates exhaustion, mental fog, and emotional reactivity.

3. Neurochemical Imbalance & Emotional Well-being

Serotonin and Dopamine Disruption: These neurotransmitters are critical for mood stabilization, motivation, and a sense of reward. Trauma disrupts their balance, leading to emotional numbness, lack of pleasure, or a sense of hopelessness.
Capacity to Take Care & Fulfill Desires:
- Cause: Prolonged survival mode leads to the downregulation of systems needed for joy and pleasure.
- Effect: Basic desires such as taking care of oneself or finding joy in activities become insurmountable. The brain becomes locked in a state of conservation—everything feels like a threat, leaving little space for self-love, connection, or creativity.

4. Capacity to Be Lovable & Isolation The combined weight of neurochemical imbalance, exhaustion, and perceived inadequacy diminishes the capacity to give and receive love. Individuals often experience:

Sense of Unworthiness: The belief that they are broken or beyond help emerges, often preventing them from seeking the connections they need most.
Isolation & Spiritual Death:
- Cause: The belief in one’s unworthiness and the constant re-experiencing of trauma-related sensations prevent connection.
- Effect: Isolation takes hold, disconnecting the individual from others, the community, and often themselves. This can be experienced as a "spiritual death"—a state where hope, joy, and a sense of a higher purpose become obscured.

Visual Representation of the Traumatized State

Chronic Stress Response → Heightened Cortisol & Adrenaline
                         ↓
             Disrupted Sleep → Emotional Dysregulation
                         ↓
            Serotonin & Dopamine Imbalance
                         ↓
        ↓ Capacity to Care → ↓ Capacity to Feel Joy
                         ↓
               ↓ Capacity to be Lovable → Isolation
                         ↓
               Profound Disconnection (Spiritual Death)

5. Breaking the Cycle: A Path to Healing Understanding the cyclical nature of trauma’s effects allows us to identify points for intervention:

Restoration of Safety: Trauma-focused therapies aim to help individuals find a sense of safety within their own bodies, often through practices like somatic experiencing, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), or breathwork.
Neurochemical Regulation: Through a combination of therapy, medication when necessary, proper sleep hygiene, nutrition, and meaningful activities, the brain can gradually regulate serotonin and dopamine levels.
Reconnecting with Others: Trauma healing also means breaking the pattern of isolation, re-engaging with trusted people, and finding ways to rebuild community, whether through group therapy, shared creative activities, or reconnecting with loved ones.
Reclaiming Spiritual Connection: For many, trauma disconnects them not just from people but from themselves and any sense of greater meaning. Healing involves reclaiming that connection—often through meditation, nature, art, or spiritual practices that foster a sense of belonging to something greater than oneself.

This cause-and-effect model highlights how trauma disrupts an individual’s core being but also illustrates that healing is possible by breaking the cycles and restoring balance. Trauma doesn’t have to be a life sentence; with compassion, understanding, and care, it’s possible to help individuals rediscover safety, connection, and joy.

Would it be helpful to create a specific visual or infographic on any of these themes to illustrate the concepts more clearly? I'm also happy to provide more practical examples of how these elements play out in people's lives or actionable steps for breaking these cycles.