Risk of Revictimization From Untreated Trauma

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There’s a saying that goes, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” At times, fear lets us know that we are in a situation that is threatening. The experience of feeling fear in our body informs us that we need to act. It's the “doing something” that moves us into action, increasing the likelihood of protecting ourselves. When symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder get in the way of feeling fear, there is a risk of revictimization.

A study of cross-sectional and longitudinal cases recognized that one victimization experience can increase the risk for future victimizations. It cited that 90% of adults in the United States report a history of trauma, and most have had multiple traumatic experiences, averaging around three (Kilpatrick et al., 2013).

Revictimization

Traumatized people feel chronically unsafe inside of their bodies. “People who cannot comfortably notice what is going on inside become vulnerable. They respond to any sensory shift either by shutting down or by going into a panic — they develop a fear of fear itself.” (van der Kolk, 2014, p. 97). When this occurs, they are unable to protect themselves.

In the realm of intimate partner abuse (IPA), it’s common to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. One reaction to IPA that frequently shows up is emotional numbing or freeze. With this defensive reaction to the felt sense of fear, a person’s awareness is dulled when a threatening situation arises hindering their assessment and reaction to the potential harm.

A Client’s Transformative Testimony

Recently, the fear of feeling fear became the focal point of a session in an ongoing trauma-informed treatment with one of my clients who has a history of intimate partner abuse and PTSD. She worked hard over time to move out of freeze and numbing to be more in her body and have access to her feelings.

Although divorced and safe from her ex-husband, my client was having difficulty being present — not numbing out — with her boyfriend whose fairly benign behavior triggered a past traumatic event with her abusive husband. In this particular session, we use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and cleared out the traumatic reaction of fear to the old memory. This process was successful. She now is capable of experiencing fear, remaining present, and determining what feels safe or not in her new relationship. EMDR with bi-lateral stimulation — right brain left brain processing — took place after each response from my client. Other trauma-informed types of treatment can be helpful as well.

The following is a partial transcript of a session with the client’s words italicized:

I fear my boyfriend is like my ex-husband. There’s some danger that I’m not seeing that will hurt my family and me.

As we processed her fear, we determined its origin was from the past. I pointed out that she was being triggered and the abusive event was not happening now. I asked her to look around. She did, and she acknowledged feeling safe. She acknowledged that her boyfriend (M) was not her ex-husband and that she was safe.

I’m not 'sleeping with the enemy.’ But I have a lot of resistance to feeling safe. Rationally, I know. But, in my body, it doesn’t feel real.

At this point, she recognized the tension in her chest that she described as “terror.” She had a voice telling her, “You’re not capable of handling a scary situation.”

I’m realizing that I’m afraid. I’m resisting feeling the fear. The feeling of fear scares me. Feeling of terror…all my strategies to not feel, dissociate, freeze…when fear comes up it’s overwhelming…I want to feel fear without feeling terrified of it.

I reminded her she was safe. I encouraged her to let her feelings come about the past traumatic experience, even fear, and to try not suppressing any feelings even if she was afraid.

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It’s okay to feel it. Felt like a relief… [She says this tearfully.]

It felt good to allow whatever was there to be there. Big release. It’s relaxing…peaceful…and not to be afraid. Rod of tension in my chest dissipated. I allowed whatever feeling in my body to come up. It felt fine. Felt good. My next thought was M is not dangerous. A little ripple of fear with that thought and allowed it to be there. It didn’t seem so scary. I had the thought that problems or conflicts that come up I’m capable of handling. Feels energizing.

At the end of the session, I asked how this was for her. She said:

That was great. Incredibly scary, upsetting memory; if anything, it feels like an empowering memory. That’s great to transform a memory like that. I did the work and reinforces that I’m capable. I’m capable of handling scary situations. Big relief. You don’t know you have these beliefs, and if you did you wouldn’t know how to change it. I like the way you work with your body in the process…emotions and somatic relief.

Easy to feel sad but afraid to feel fear…now not resisting fear…I feel good about that.

Trauma Recovery

Trauma recovery of past events will help us know in our body when we are truly safe and when we need to be alert to harmful situations preventing future revictimization. Gut feelings tell us what is safe or threatening. When we have a comfortable connection with our inner sensations and can trust them to provide us with accurate information, we’ll feel in charge of our body, feelings, and our self (van der Kolk, 2014).

Trauma-Informed treatment options

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

©Lambert