Trauma
A wound whose impact persists after the threat has ended
Point for discernment
Trauma occurs when an event or prolonged circumstances exceed a person's ability to cope and leave a lasting impact on their functioning. The threat may already be over, but the body, emotions, and memory still react as though it were present. Intrusive memories and nightmares, avoidance, hypervigilance, freezing, numbness, disconnection from feelings, shame, and difficulties with trust, sleep, and a sense of safety may appear.
Present pattern
Intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, hypervigilance, fight, flight, or freeze responses, numbness, disconnection, shame, and problems with sleep, trust, and a sense of safety.
Possible root
Violence, neglect, abuse, loss, an accident, war, disaster, prolonged threat, or another experience that exceeded the person's ability to cope.
Impact
A lasting sense of threat, isolation, difficulties in relationships and prayer, loss of voice and choice, shame, fragmented experience, and vulnerability to fear and hopelessness.
Discernment
Matters for discernment include the effects of harm actually suffered, entrenched fear, shame, false guilt, lies accepted under the influence of trauma, and any spiritual oppression that entered through shock or intense fear.
Spiritual response
Name the harm suffered and its effects before Jesus; surrender fear, shame, and false guilt to him; forgive without justifying evil; reject lies formed in trauma; renounce the spirit of fear and every identified oppression; ask Jesus for the healing of wounds and the restoration of peace, boundaries, voice, connection, and inner coherence.
Sources
Sources: SAMHSA, VA National Center for PTSD, NCTSN; Derek Prince; Elijah House; Restoring the Foundations; Charles Kraft; Frank and Ida Mae Hammond. Related: four source cards on fragmentation of the soul.