Trauma and Stories

What are the ingredients to a good, lively story? “Action” is usually high on the list. “Conflict” is also hard to avoid in weaving an engaging tale. These are the shiny parts that catch the attention and grab the reader. They are safely divorced from discomfort and danger when read from your favorite reading chair. “Action and Conflict” can be thrilling entertainment, but stories can do more than entertain. They can reach deeper and show us new ways to see our own lives.

“Action” is the exciting front end while trauma comes in the not-so-exciting back end. For example a fist fight is full of high adrenaline antics that entertain, but the physical, emotional and psychological recoveries on the back end are not as thrilling though they are a significant part of the human story. That is where trauma and resilience enter.

Acknowledging trauma is tough. It has a stigma or appears to be a sign of weakness. Indiana Jones shows no signs of trauma. but when his nervous system explodes in response to a threat (trauma territory), there is a potential immobilizing crisis until his resilience leads him to safety. Resilience is the antidote to trauma and the dynamic between the two is at the heart of many good stories. Action is the excitement, trauma is the price.

Trauma comes when the ability to cope has been exceeded. No one is exempt. Learn about Trauma and Resilience (see Trauma and Resilience blogs) and thicken your stories.