Trauma and Abuse: How to navigate from survival mode to freedom.

Learned helplessness
a condition in which a person has a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed. It is thought to be one of the underlying causes of depression.

Learned helplessness is the behavior exhibited by a subject after enduring repeated aversive stimuli beyond their control.

Trauma bonding

Trauma bonds are emotional bonds that arise from a cyclical pattern of abuse. A trauma bond occurs in an abusive relationship, wherein the victim forms an emotional bond with the perpetrator. The concept was developed by psychologists Donald Dutton and Susan Painter.

Trauma bonding occurs when someone experiencing abuse develops an attachment for their abuser.

Stockholm syndrome

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response to being held captive. People with Stockholm syndrome form a psychological connection with their captors and begin sympathizing with them.

In addition to the original kidnapper-hostage situation, Stockholm syndrome now includes other types of trauma in which there’s a bond between the abuser and the person being abused.

Many medical professionals consider the victim’s positive feelings toward their abuser a psychological response — a coping mechanism — that they use to survive the days, weeks or even years of trauma or abuse.

Survival mode

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and include: Flashbacks.
Feeling distrustful, irritated, jittery or anxious.
Can’t relax or enjoy things that you previously enjoyed.
Trouble concentrating.