trauma fractures : fear or fuel
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“sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”.
we have been told this for hundreds of years. and to a certain extent this childhood rhyme is true. however, depending upon how event(s) unfolds, every part of our being can be broken - our body, our mind, our soul - all subject to trauma that can leave a lasting or lifelong mark
an accident can break bones, which typically heal, however the details surrounding the event can be embedded in the mind. a fear can take root, lasting far longer than any physical damage. childhood trauma often leaves deeper scars than a similar event in adulthood. and the frequency or repetition of trauma - whether physical, psychological, sexual, etc - can amplify the long-term impact even more
like other conflicts, trauma fractures have traditionally been mishandled with the same endless loop of labeling, compartmentalizing, and blame-game that fuels perpetual talk and treatment. while this status quo sounds complex and intellectual, it rarely delivers anything tangible in the present . . .
the american psychiatric association (apa) publishes the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (dsm-5-tr). it does not list trauma as a diagnosable mental disorder. instead, it contins an entire chapter of trauma- and stressor-related disorders with highly detailed criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, adjustment disorders, and more. every detail - the type of event, the duration of the event, the frequency of events, re-experiencing the event, the number of symptoms, level of distress or impairment caused, and many other factors - all contribute to their diagnosis criteria
the world health organization (who) in the icd-11 groups trauma under “disorders specifically associated with stress,” expanding upon additional potential symptoms such as emotional dysregulation and negative self-concept. like so many other conflicts, trauma is multi-factorial with no absolute certainties
even the oxford english dictionary traces “trauma” from greek “wound”. originally focused on the physical, the definition evolving to psychological injury in the 20th century - a “deeply distressing or disturbing experience” that leaves lasting effects
and with all of those boxes to be assessed, checked and measured, far too many are buried under a mountain of quantification, desperately searching for just one needle that might help put them back together again
the codex can be a magnet
it casts aside all the checklists, all the labels, all the noise, and asks you to focus on three elements - a compass, totem and chain
when viewed through the lens of the codex, many conflicts, problems or troubling thoughts can become clearer. it inspires you to ask questions - not for 'healing' - but to help you find a more manageable, clearer path
grim's compass . . .
- was the trauma inevitable or did i miss something that could have changed it?
continuity totem . . .
- what was broken or taken - body, mind, or soul - and what remains in my control?
sacred chain . . .
- how do i choose to carry the trauma into tomorrow?
the codex is not a book of answers. it is not a magical salve for your pain. it inspires questions - questions that can help illuminate a path to acceptance, alignment, and authenticity in the present.
remember: the japanese practice of kintsugi repairs without hiding. it does not cover or disguise damage. it highlights it, making what was once broken more beautiful, stronger and more valuable than its original, unbroken form. “trauma is a mountain that can bury you beneath it. or, it can be a mountain you climb, showing you a different perspective, a different future, that was not possible before” ~ grim