Trauma and Existential Depression: A Loss of Meaning

Diagnostic Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Cluster A:    Events that involve actual or threatened death or serious injury And lead to a response of intense fear, helplessness or horror

Cluster B:     Re-experience symptoms such as intrusive recollections, nightmares, flashbacks

Cluster C:     Avoidance of people & Numbing of emotions

Cluster D:     Arousal of feelings like anxiety; on guard for danger

When the Cluster A and B symptoms are strong enough to cause Cluster C and D symptoms it becomes more difficult to meet the basic human needs of safety, trust, control, feeling of value, and of closeness to others. The individual can become alienated from herself and others in consequence which is an important element of Existential Depression.

In this situation there is a tendency to resort to medication too soon to reduce symptoms. Also alcohol, drugs, restless activity, and mechanisms of defense may be used by the client to escape the unpleasant or painful mood. When symptom reduction methods are used prematurely there are at least four undesirable results: (1) the motivation for change is diminished; (2) hidden or unrecognized sources of distress (internal and external) remain undiscovered; (3) the necessary time is not allowed to gain the necessary insight to put together a better whole; and (4) intensive inner work involving our personal resources is circumvented.

Homeostasis - Latin homeo (same) and stasis (lack of motion). Homeostasis is a force that acts to preserve the status quo, and to restore it after it has been disturbed.

Bifurcation Point - A time of extreme stress in which homeostatic structures destabilize or disintegrate. It is a time when extreme change can result.

Resilience - The strength required to successfully master bifurcation points. The relationship of these could be diagramed as follows:

There are qualities that are integral to the resilience required to master the times of extreme stress and trauma in our lives. These are:

1. Flexible self-esteem

2. Independence in thought and action

3. Ability to involve others as friends and confidants.

4. Personal discipline and sense of responsibility.

5. Recognizing and developing one’s special gifts and talents.

6. Open-mindedness and receptivity to new ideas.

7. Willingness to dream.

8. Wide range of interests.

9. Sense of humor.

10. Acceptance and expression of feelings.

11. Tolerance of distress.

12. A philosophical framework within which personal experiences can be interpreted with meaning and hope:

     A. Commitment - Finding something meaningful and  worthwhile whatever you are doing.

     B. Control - Believing that your own efforts have an effect on what goes on around you.

     C. Challenge - Believing that what improves your life is growth through learning rather than easy comfort and security.

These 3 C’s are central to resilience or hardiness in life, and are strong preventatives to existential depression when bifurcations points arise in our life.

To these 3 C’s we could add two more C’s:

     D. Creativity - Ability to utilize one’s resources in ways new to oneself to solve problems.

     E. Connection - In relationship with self and others.

1. The same strength required to survive a traumatic event can be used to overcome it’s effects. See "Discovering Personal Strengths" & Discovering More Effective Ways to Cope."

2. The attitude we take toward suffering, the larger context within which we can place it can give suffering meaning. Also, one’s explanatory style as it relates particularly to permanence and pervasiveness can become more optimistic.

Permanence: A permanent, pessimistic style is when bad things are thought of in "always" and abiding traits. An optimistic style balmes bad events on transient conditions.

"I’m all washed up." (Pessimistic) vs. "I’m exhausted." (Optimistic)

For the optimist the opposite is true for good events. Good events have permanent causes, and for the pessimist good events have temporary causes.

"I tried hard." (Pessimistic) vs. "I’m talented." (Optimistic)

Pervasiveness: People who make universal explanations for their failures give up on everything when a failure strikes in one area. For a negative event:

"I’m stupid." (Pessimistic) vs. "I’m smart." (Optimistic)

For a positive event, the opposite is true.

"I’m smart at math." (Pessimistic) vs. "I’m smart." (Optimistic)

Getting in touch with one’s body and activity is a key first step. We need to experience something that evokes a human response.

4. Connection to others helps us heal and find meaning. See excerpt from "Helping the Trauma Survivor Heal."

5. To find and restore meaning must involve God, our inner self and purposeful action for others. Meditation, prayer, scripture, inspired thoughts, paying attention to dreams, early morning insights, experiential exercises, and other methods can help us. To the degree the understanding gained is converted into specific deeds that help others, meaning is gained.