The Number One Reason Traumatized People Pull Away

Summary

The video explores the pervasive symptom of isolation in individuals with PTSD, particularly those with childhood trauma. It discusses how isolating can manifest overtly and covertly, providing short-term stress relief but ultimately hindering personal growth and relationships. The script emphasizes the importance of confronting and healing from these triggers to foster genuine connections and improve overall well-being. It highlights the necessity of human interaction for mental, emotional, and physical health and encourages viewers to gradually re-engage with others, practice setting boundaries, and develop meaningful relationships despite the challenges.

Takeaways

• 🛡️ Isolating is a common symptom of PTSD, serving as a coping mechanism for those with trauma.
• 👥 Isolation can manifest as avoiding people entirely or attending social events but avoiding genuine connections.
• ⚠️ Neurological disregulation, which includes heightened stress responses, is a key challenge for those with CPTSD.
• 🚫 Isolation provides short-term relief from stress but can lead to long-term negative consequences, closing off opportunities and relationships.
• 🌪️ Triggers can cause intense anxiety, making social interactions feel overwhelming and leading to avoidance behaviors.
• 🛠️ Healing involves recognizing that isolation is often a self-imposed barrier rather than solely caused by external factors.
• 💬 Negative beliefs about people and social interactions can stem from trauma and contribute to isolation.
• 😢 Grieving lost or blocked relationships is necessary to motivate reconnection with others.
• 🧠 Reconnecting with people, even in small ways, helps improve mental, physical, and emotional health.
• 🔄 Practice is essential to regain social skills and establish healthy boundaries, preventing isolation from becoming a permanent state.

Q & A

What is a common symptom of PTSD from childhood or trauma?

Isolating is an almost universal symptom of PTSD from childhood or for anyone with wounds from trauma.

How can isolating manifest in social settings?

Isolating can take the form of totally avoiding other people or acting friendly at social events but avoiding real connection and holding people at arm's length with small talk.

Why might someone with PTSD feel the need to isolate?

Isolating can feel like the right and best self-caring thing to do in the moment to avoid stress and neurological dysregulation caused by social interactions.

What is neurological disregulation?

Neurological disregulation is the stressed and discombobulated feeling that can be extra intense and frequent for people who were abused or neglected as kids.

How does isolating affect a person's life in the long term?

If isolation is used to manage PTSD triggers, it can cause a person's life options to gradually close off as they avoid opportunities and relationships.

What are trauma-driven beliefs?

Trauma-driven beliefs are negative thoughts about people and the world that start as reflexive reactions to past hurts but can become rigid and intense, making it hard to connect with others.

Why is it important to come out of isolation?

It's important to come out of isolation to heal and connect with people, as social connections are essential for mental, emotional, and physical health.

What role does practicing connection play in healing from PTSD?

Practicing connection helps to manage triggers, reduces preoccupation with past hurts, and improves social skills, making it easier to participate in life and relationships.

How can one start to break the habit of isolating?

One can start to break the habit of isolating by making small efforts to connect with others, such as saying hello to a cashier, checking on a neighbor, or calling a friend.

What are some benefits of social interactions for people with PTSD?

Social interactions can help ground thinking, keep social skills sharp, and provide emotional support, which are all beneficial for mental and physical well-being.