Even before current research suggested the importance of a mind/body approach to working with trauma survivors, these survivor-helpers were intuitively tuned to their body. I believe almost any honest and persistent pursuit in self-healing will lead a survivor at some point, back to their body. Care providers who appear somewhat disconnected from their physical being often have a curiosity or previous experience with a mind/body approach but have not pursued or practiced their method because of how chaotic their work lives have gotten. It is especially for this group that the FlowMotion exercises described later in the book have been developed. They are possibly the simplest, most direct method to develop body awareness. When we feel safe enough to explore new ideas, particularly in teams, healthcare providers are tremendously creative. Dr. Ellen Langer, Harvard Psychologist in her book Mindfulness (1989) believes creativity is an essential quality of Mindfulness. “Many if not all, of the qualities that make up a mindful attitude are characteristic of creative people.
Creativity is natural to children. Traumatic stress often results in physical and emotional constriction that is expressed emotionally as an almost deadly seriousness. Seriousness is the anticipation of pain. Creativity is a condition of the Natural self. When you feel “safe enough” and “good enough” in your body and your environment, the Natural self will come out to play. The willingness to play with new ideas, perceptions and perspectives is the core of creativity. Visualization can be a double-edged sword; we can unconsciously visualize what we don’t want (and usually do by default) as well as begin to consciously form our experience through directed visualization. The use of directed imagery in visualization has been studied and utilized extensively in sports psychology. Robin S. Vealey from Miami University in her chapter “Imagery Training for Performance Enhancement” states: “The evidence supporting the positive influence of imagery on sport performance is impressive. Visualization is also more than directed imaging; it includes the use of memory fragments - both implicit and explicit, body motion, emotional or affective charging and cognitive mapping.
Visualization is inevitable; we either visualize with conscious intent, or unconsciously (and usually negatively) by default. When conscious directed visualization is performed utilizing multi-sensory rehearsal the enhancement of performance and enjoyment is significant. When visualization is done by default, we most often visualize that which we fear. These personality traits are very consistent with compassion fatigue; they often develop as a result of the traumatic experiences many care providers have experienced in their lives that also helped develop heightened capacities for empathy. Traumatic personal experiences can be the wellspring of empathy and wisdom; they can also result in unresolved grief that is often expressed as dependency and compulsive behavior. One common personality trait of care providers is our compulsiveness. This is actually a valued trait sought out by managers and supervisors. As a former clinical director and program manager, having employees who were somewhat rigid about completing tasks and taking a high degree of responsibility for their work was highly valued. It can also result in burnout, especially when combined with emotional dependency and unresolved grief.
I believe a high percentage of care providers have experienced significant loss in their lives that may still remain as unresolved grief. It is no mystery that a surprising number of us have, do or will experience major depression that often requires medication and therapy. “They had experienced what they described and family members confirmed as a ‘severe break’ in a prior emotional bond. Many reported an especially difficult divorce or the premature loss of a parent, which still plagued them emotionally even after several years had passed. There seemed to be a chronic, mildly depressive nature sometimes masked by self-depreciating humor” (p.97). Dependency is often the result of unresolved grief. Unresolved grief can take root in the body’s mind as “need-desire,” a desire or want that is experienced with the same intensity and tenacity as an unmet basic need. Dependency can be experienced as “emotional “hunger” with the same intensity as physical hunger. It can draw our attention and intention inward towards its constantly aching emptiness.
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