Kapri: 0:44

Hello and welcome. I'm your host, Kapri. Today, we'll explore trauma as a full-body experience. Trauma is not just an emotional or mental event. It profoundly affects the body, health and genetic makeup. We'll explore how trauma manifests physically, discuss the faces of trauma and introduce the science of epigenetics. By the end of this episode, you'll better understand how trauma is stored and what it takes to heal from it.

Kapri: 1:11

Trauma is commonly misunderstood as a purely psychological phenomenon, but in reality, it encompasses both mind and body. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an event or series of events that overwhelms an individual's capacity to cope, often resulting in long-lasting feelings of helplessness and fear. These experiences can lead to significant changes in the brain, impacting areas such as the amygdala, which is involved in emotional regulation, the hippocampus, responsible for memory, and the prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making and impulse control. When these brain structures are affected, trauma survivors may experience symptoms such as hypervigilance, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating and emotional numbing. However, trauma doesn't just stay in the brain. It also has a lasting effect on the body, keeping the nervous system in a heightened state of arousal that contributes to physical symptoms. These symptoms can persist long after the traumatic event has ended, impacting overall health and quality of life.

Kapri: 2:14

Trauma can seep into every part of our being, manifesting in physical symptoms that often go unexplained. Research has shown that unresolved trauma may lead to chronic health conditions such as persistent pain, digestive issues, heart problems or autoimmune disorders. These physical manifestations are signals our bodies send us, indicating the need for deeper emotional healing. Did you know that in traditional Chinese medicine, emotions are thought to be closely connected to physical health and the organs? Anger, for example, is associated with the liver, grief with the lungs and fear with the kidneys. When emotions are unprocessed, they can cause disruption in these organ systems, leading to physical ailments. Western medicine is increasingly recognizing this ancient understanding of the mind-body connection. I once collaborated with a colleague who endured chronic back pain for years. Despite various medical interventions, the pain continued Eventually. We considered that her physical discomfort could be tied to unresolved emotional trauma. Through trauma-informed therapies and body-focused practices, she could process her emotions, resulting in a significant reduction of her pain. This experience highlighted that physical symptoms can often be the body's way of signaling unresolved emotional challenges.

Kapri: 3:38

Recognizing somatic symptoms of trauma is essential. How do we identify when trauma is manifesting in our bodies? A wide range of symptoms can occur, but here are several to monitor. Chronic muscle tension or pain may manifest as tightness in the shoulders, neck or lower back that resists typical treatments. Digestive problems can arise from trauma affecting gut health, potentially resulting in issues such as IBS, acid reflux, gerd or persistent stomach pain. As IBS, acid reflux, gerd or persistent stomach pain, unexplained fatigue and low energy can occur when the nervous system remains in flight or fight mode. This prolonged state drains energy reserves, often leading to chronic exhaustion and recurring headaches, including migraines and tension headaches. Such symptoms indicate stress and possible trauma stored in the body. It's crucial to recognize these signals, as they often serve as distress messages that the trauma persists within us. Our bodies retain memories of all experiences, even when our minds attempt to move on from the traumatic events. After a brief break, we will delve into the manifestations of trauma.

Kapri: 4:48

Are you ready to make a difference in your community? In our Speak Out Advocacy series, we're here to empower you to use your voice for change. Whether improving access to mental health care, reducing stigma or shaping important social policies, this series provides the tools to create a lasting impact. If advocating for better care, breaking down barriers or transforming mental health services speaks to your heart, this is the perfect space to learn and take action. Do you have a topic you're passionate about or need support advocating for yourself or others? We'd love to hear from you. Text the show to share your thoughts. Just check the details in the show notes. Together, let's build a community that fosters change. Keep enjoying reframing the membrane.

Kapri: 5:33

Trauma extends beyond individual experiences. It can impact entire families and communities. Known as generational trauma or intergenerational trauma, this phenomenon involves the transfer of trauma from parents to children and even grandchildren. Phenomenon involves the transfer of trauma from parents to children and even grandchildren. This inheritance happens through behavioral patterns and biological alterations that shape how future generations manage stress and difficult emotions. A vital concept in understanding this transfer is epigenetics, which involves changes in gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence, which involves changes in gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence. These changes can be triggered by factors like stress, trauma or nutritional deficiencies influencing which genes are activated or deactivated. Research on the descendants of enslaved individuals and Holocaust survivors has shown that trauma-related epigenetic changes in stress-related genes can manifest in their offspring. As a result, these children may exhibit increased stress responses, anxiety or depression, even without direct exposure to the trauma themselves.

Kapri: 6:40

Trauma knows no bounds in its transmission. For instance, black or African-American communities bear the weight of trauma linked to the legacy of slavery, segregation and systemic racism, resulting in persistent health disparities. Similarly, indigenous populations have been deeply impacted by colonization, forced relocations and cultural erasure is unique, encompassing continuous exposure to race-related stressors such as discrimination, microaggressions and systemic inequalities, which can build up over time and span generations. This topic warrants further examination, which we will discuss in more detail in upcoming episodes. Comprehending the connection between generational and racial trauma is vital for interrupting cycles of stress and facilitating healing within families and communities. Responding to these trauma forms necessitates culturally informed strategies that acknowledge experiences of discrimination and historical oppression while paving the way for healing.

Kapri: 7:47

Let me share a personal story oppression while paving the way for healing. Let me share a personal story. I grew up in a time when discipline often involved corporal punishment using whatever was handy extension cords, tree branches or belts. The prevailing belief was that children should be seen and not heard, expected to be invisible in the presence of adults. This wasn't just enforced by my parents, it was a community effort. The so-called village Teachers, neighbors and family members felt responsible for correcting any behavior they deemed inappropriate. However, what constituted inappropriate varied based on the observer. I vividly remember the sting of those beatings. There were instances when the extension cord left my skin blistered and open and oozing and, to make matters worse, I was placed in a hot bathtub afterward, intensifying the pain. My mother would say with a blend of authority and regret this hurts me more than it hurts you. As a child, it was difficult to comprehend how someone who loved me could cause such suffering, while it was difficult to comprehend how someone who loved me could cause such suffering. Nonetheless, I learned to cope and foster resilience within my mind, body and spirit to endure those experiences at a very early age. In hindsight, I realized my mother was doing what she knew and what was done to her, because I knew she loved me deeply. But in her world, punishment of this kind was a way to raise a child, just as it had been for previous generations and just as she had experienced.

Kapri: 9:17

This cycle is steeped in history, tracing back to the suffering of enslaved individuals. The tactics employed by slave masters to control and dehumanize people were inherited. Tactics employed by slave masters to control and dehumanize people were inherited, becoming embedded in our culture and family traditions, often without awareness to their origins. My mother recounted her childhood experiences of needing to behave a certain way around the white side of the family to avoid severe repercussions. Her life was influenced by the challenges of being part of a mixed-race family during a more perilous era than today. Consider the cultural conflict when a white Frenchman had children with a black woman, resulting in my grandfather, in a time marked by harsh racial divides. On the other side, my grandmother of Blackfeet Indian ancestry bore children with my grandfather of Blackfeet Indian ancestry, for children with my grandfather. These blended identities influenced my family's experiences, carrying forward a legacy filled with both richness and trauma. The struggle to navigate these identities, intensified by social racial divisions, left a lasting impact.

Kapri: 10:27

Gaining insight into how trauma, behaviors and cultural expectations are transmitted across generations has facilitated my journey of forgiveness, healing and personal growth. It required education and self-awareness to unpack my experiences and consciously seek to break these cycles. Therefore, it is crucial to reframe the membrane, as trauma does not vanish. It leaves remnants within our history, culture, mind, body and spirit. It passes through generations, influencing our identities, and may hinder our capacity to flourish unless we actively reclaim and reframe it as we move forward in this discussion, I invite you to consider your experiences with trauma, whether you have personally faced it or observed it.

Kapri: 11:14

What steps are you taking to heal and break this cycle? Feel free to text the show with your reflections. Remember our voices matter. Speaking up and expressing ourselves can be a straightforward yet impactful step toward healing. I also understand that reflecting on trauma may evoke challenging emotions or even cause you to revisit those experiences. If you require support, please take a look at the show notes for local resources near you. Let's take a moment to stretch, breathe and let go. When we return, we'll hear from a mental health and wellness advocate who will share insights on generational trauma from his perspective.

Kapri: 11:54

If you're able, begin by sitting or lying down comfortably. Focus on one muscle group at a time, starting with your feet. Tense the muscles for 5 to 10 seconds, then release. Move up the body, repeating this process for each muscle group. Move up the body, repeating this process for each muscle group. Notice how your body feels afterward and observe any changes in relaxation or tension. Now let's try a quick breathing exercise. You may already be familiar with the 4-7-8 technique, but if this is new for you, keep your mouth closed and breathe in through your nose while counting to 4. Hold your breath for seven seconds. Then now slowly exhale through the mouth for eight seconds. Repeat once more. Try these quick exercises over the next week and let me know how you're doing. Find these exercises in the show notes. Now let's continue our discussion.

Kapri: 13:02

Welcome back. We're here with Jersey Mike. Mike, welcome to the show.

Mike: 13:07

Thank you for having me.

Kapri: 13:09

You're welcome. Tell us how has trauma influenced your life or the lives of those around you?

Mike: 13:14

Okay, so my experience with trauma starts at a young age. You know Not to blame my parents, but they pushed the trauma on me that they had, but they did it differently. Nobody wants to do it the same way. You know, my parents had parents that worked hard and they instilled in them that there may not be enough, that you have to save or you may not have enough, but when you have something you need to get it in abundance. My parents were strict, so they spanked me and I think it made me a better person, but it also made me not want to be as strict with my kids. But I wanted them to do better, of course, them to do better, of course. I know that I was, uh, very strict with them, but I didn't spank them as much. That's just inside the house. That's how you make it out the front door, out the side door, out the back door, out to play out with your friends.

Mike: 14:27

School was a whole other trauma. The trauma there was trying to fit in, trying to fit in with an IQ that most kids didn't have and made fun of before. You know, having two-parent home was something that you know I wanted to hide, because most of my friends that did have it understood and most of the rest of the school didn't. So you know, some of the other kids said no, they teased us, they thought we were soft, you know, but not realizing that we're growing up in the same situation. And then when you get outside of that, then that's how the world looks at you. You know, everything is fine when you're a little kid you're cute, you're harmless, you're not a threat.

Mike: 15:18

But for me, I wasn't gonna stay a kid. You know, I was gonna be an adult. I couldn't just be a man, I had to be a black man. And being a black man you're a threat to everyone and everything just about. And then you learn how you're automatically criminalized.

Mike: 15:38

When two years ago you would go to a function and you know the cops would give you candy, you come back with a little fuzz on your lip and they look at you like a statistic, like somebody they need to put handcuffs on, somebody that needs to be pulled over because you have to be doing something wrong, somebody who's not going to get a break for the benefit of the doubt, somebody who needs to be watched in the store even though you have money in your pocket, and not a kleptomaniac. So there's different levels to it and you know, even before all of this, like I was saying initially about my parents, you know there's their parents and their parents' parents that just passed trauma along, you know, in DNA. I just believe that and you know it's a lot to deal with. You know, sometimes some of us, or maybe all of us, are born with PTSD. I don't know if that answers your question, but that's what I think of when I think of trauma in my life, at least to that point.

Kapri: 17:11

Thank you for sharing a painful part of your story. It's clear those experiences impacted your life. You mentioned not wanting others to know that you grew up in a two-parent household. Could you explain why that was? And also when you spoke about your parents passing on trauma. Tell us a bit more about that and how it shaped your upbringing.

Mike: 17:31

Well, I mean, it was very similar to anybody else's household. My father worked mostly night. My mother was fortunate enough to work from home to take care of us. You know, eventually she went back to work, but she made that sacrifice so she could instill certain things in us, and some of those things were hard lessons. Instill certain things in us and some of those things were hard lessons. My mother was not.

Mike: 17:55

I always think my mother was not a typical woman. I'm sure everybody thinks this, but my mother was not a typical woman. She would get dressed and, you know, look like a diva. But if she was on the phone and you made too much noise, you know that phone would be the thing that you remember when you see her on it. You don't make noise. She would knock you outside the head with it. You know that telephone book would become a weapon and you might only get hit once. But once was enough, at least it should have been. They hit once, but once was enough, at least it should have been. I always remember that, saying I'll knock some sense into you or I'll knock you into next week. Well, I may still be in next week because of some of that, and then she would make sure that they were on the same page.

Mike: 18:47

So when my father did come home, he knew everything that happened and she wanted him to be on the same page with her. So sometimes you get it twice. For one thing, of course, we all do stuff that we get away with. Never thought my parents were trying to abuse me, but I knew if I got caught doing something that I would get it twice as bad. And when I say my household was like most, my father was not there most of the time he was around on the weekend. He was awake on the weekend because he was busy earning a living. You know, most of the time, you know, I would see him on my way to school. Sometimes he, you know, walked me to halfway down the street and be like all right, just cut through there, you'll be fine. Yeah, I would imagine.

Mike: 19:34

You know, a lot of people did not, you know, see their father until the weekend and they were mostly raised by their mothers, which, in my opinion, you know, has its own concerns, especially for a young man. I think, you know, women do the best that they can. It's just more natural, in my opinion, for a kid to be raised by a father because it's going to be more above. Do this? Do that more logical? A lot of times women will be more emotional, where my mother really wasn't, when it came to raising us. Like you know, she might have went in the room and cried after she beat us, but she would have, you know, she would give you more than enough chances and when you went too far, that was it, you know. So, like I said, I grew up in a straight household where we were expected to do what we were told. We were expected to be seen and not heard.

Kapri: 20:38

The messages about your parents' roles and the idea that children should be seen and not heard had a profound impact on your emotional processing and childhood experiences. I also grew up in an era where children were expected to be seen and not heard. How did this dynamic shape your growth, and how do those feelings resonate with you now as an adult?

Mike: 20:59

As a child, I always had my responses prepared because I had enough time to think about it.

Mike: 21:05

Um, I didn't think about it too much because that was those were the rules, and knowing that if I would have said some of the first things that came to my mind, that I would be reprimanded. You know, I was careful about what I said and more careful about what I did. Um, I think as an adult, I think I learned how to, or I figured out that, you know, I should say what's on my mind. I only have so much time here, so I should share what I'm thinking. I think it also made me think about what I'm going to say and maybe how it's going to be received and who's going to hear it. It also made me be much more careful, which I think may be one of the reasons why I'm still alive. It definitely felt like when I wanted to say something and chose not to because I didn't want to rock the boat, so to speak, or get my boat rocked. Yeah, you walk in that tightrope and you know you wait until an appropriate time.

Kapri: 22:11

Considering the impact of those experiences, how have you managed to heal from the trauma? What steps or methods have aided you in progressing along your healing journey?

Mike: 22:21

I believe I'm still in the process. You know healing like you said, I agree, it's a lifelong journey and you know as like you like you said, I agree, it's a lifelong journey and you know as you go through life, you learn what healing is. You learn that your parents aren't perfect. Learn that you're not perfect. I mean you probably know that first, right, but uh, yeah, I think I see like after knowing I mean being fortunate enough to know my going through. You know one of the one of the most horrific times in this country. You know where people lost everything. People had nothing. And you know if you have a family of three. You know how you're going to feed yourself could be.

Mike: 23:29

You know I just saw something not too long ago where it was saying you know that you survive, how you survive. You know syrup sandwiches and you know things of that nature that most people would never go back and eat or admit that they ate. And one of the things I always say when I'm joking is having sleep for dinner and fortunately for us, that usually only happened when we did something really bad. We might have gotten spanked and it's like just go to bed. I don't want to see you type of thing.

Mike: 24:05

But having sleep for dinner will put you in a different perspective that next morning, um, but, like I was saying, you know you can spend over 100 years, from you know this, this recent pandemic, back to the last one, and in between there there's been you know a lot that happened to shape people and change them and give them their own trauma on top of what was passed down. You know like we can look at, like I was saying, like the great depression, these world wars, um, you know civil rights. You know, first, what I call the first free generation, which is, I consider, my generation, and now you know, after, in my lifetime, it seems like there could be, you know, a generation that doesn't know the type of freedom that I had.

Kapri: 25:05

Thank you for sharing your story and for your openness about your experiences. You described feeling like you're on a hamster wheel. What advice or insights can you provide to listeners who may be experiencing something similar?

Mike: 25:18

You don't have a good friend to talk, to talk to somebody you know a therapist or something or somebody that doesn't know you. But if it's not somebody that you know a therapist or something or somebody that doesn't know you because if it's not somebody that you can absolutely trust, then it's got to be somebody who doesn't know you that's not going to go back and say anything to anybody just to get it out. I mean, I think that helped me a lot when I accepted the fact that I can't figure it out all on my own. That was one major thing. Yeah, just to have people around you that you trust, that you can talk to and share with. I think that's where it starts. Also, you know give yourself grace and you know forgive people. You know you have to. If you can forgive people for anything, not necessarily forget. I think it takes the burden off of you because you don't have to hang on to it anymore. In order to heal, you have to give yourself grace, forgive people and forgive yourself.

Kapri: 26:31

I deeply appreciate your presence and your willingness to open up, trusting me to listen and care about your experiences. Your thoughts on healing, highlighting the importance of forgiving others, forgiving yourself and letting go of trauma, are truly impactful. You've demonstrated how reaching out to friends, professional therapists or other support networks can significantly alleviate the burden of trauma. You're a friend of the show and we would love to have you return anytime to further explore the connections between mind, body and spirit. Thank you once more for being with us.

Mike: 27:03

Thank you for listening and having me more, for being with us. Thank you for listening and having me and hopefully some of what I said resonates with people and can help. I think it's helped me because I thought about a few things that I haven't thought about in some time.

Kapri: 27:19

You're welcome. Thank you and take care and be well. That wraps up today's discussion. It's important to remember that trauma impacts both our minds and bodies, affecting our physical health and even our genetics. We highlighted the extensive effects of generational and racial trauma and stressed the significance of identifying trauma related physical symptoms. A big thank you to our special guest, Jersey Mike, for sharing his insights today. Don't hesitate to text the show your comments or questions or topic request. In our next episode, we will explore how practices like somatic exercise and breath work can help in releasing trauma. Consider your own experiences or those from your family's history that may have shaped you. Until next time, take care.