What is Trauma?

Trauma is any event that causes someone significant pain or distress. It can be abuse one experienced in an abusive partnership or the devastation of losing someone we love to death. When something makes us feel unsafe or helpless, our bodies release chemicals called "stress hormones" into our bloodstreams, which prepare us for fight, flight, freeze or feign — our bodies way of preparing us to defend or protect ourselves from danger. Anything from a car accident to an argument with your boss at work can activate this stress response. Most people experience some trauma at some point in their lives, but for some people with complex PTSD (C-PTSD), this response becomes stuck in an "on" mode. When this happens, we're left feeling like we're constantly being chased by danger instead of living as those without C-PTSD do.

Trauma is one of the most significant issues faced by LGBTQ2S+  people. And yes, big T and minor t trauma can be difficult to overcome, but it IS possible. Unfortunately, it can also be a challenging experience to navigate alone. Trauma can profoundly impact your life, whether it's C-PTSD, anxiety, or another mental health issue.

 Repairing our wounds and regaining trust in the world takes a lot of complex emotional labor. This is especially true for those of us who are PoC and living in Black or Brown skin—the fear is accurate, and the lack of safety is legit. This is certainly not a quick fix, especially when discussing systemic issues alongside trauma, such as Racism and Homophobia/Transphobia. But we are here to tell you that you should not do this alone.

Below are common types of traumas that LGBTQ2S+  individuals experience. Trauma often involves physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

• Bullying and harassment

The LGBTQ+ community experiences bullying regularly, which can take many forms: verbal attacks, physical assaults, rumors spread by others in the community, rejection from “family,” and much more. Holding up against this kind of bullying can be difficult because it can feel like you are being singled out. However, we remind you that your identity is not up for debate or attack.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance in 2019 indicated that many LGBTQ young people continue to suffer from bullying and struggle with health and suicide risks. The percentage reporting being threatened or injured with a weapon at school is 15.9%. For cisgender LGB students, the percentage who reported experiencing physical dating violence is 13.1%. This data increases the risk for depression, suicidal tendencies, and misuse of drugs and alcohol. (1)

If you have faced any form of bullying or harassment within the LGBTQ2S+ community, some organizations can help you guide your situation safely. Phoenix Rising Centers is an organization dedicated to assisting LGBTQ2S+ experiencing suicidal thoughts or attempting suicide due to traumatic experiences. In addition, many organizations offer support and counseling services for LGBTQ+  who need help dealing with their feelings about themselves or their family members and society’s attitudes toward them.

• Physical and Sexual Abuse

LGBTQ individuals are often targets of physical abuse because they're seen as outsiders and have been ostracized for “being weird'“ or “sinful.” Some communities have even coined the term "queer bashing" to describe the violence that happens to LGBTQ2S+ people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), Forty-four percent of Lesbians and Sixty-one percent of bisexual women experience rape, physical violence, or being stalked by an intimate partner. Twenty-six percent of gay men and thirty-seven percent of bisexual men experience rape, physical violence, or being stalked by an intimate partner. (2)

•  Discrimination

The LGBT community has long been discriminated against, and this discrimination can be seen in many different ways. For example, if a person identifies as gay, they are often denied many rights that others who identify as straight have. They may also be mistreated because of their sexual orientation. It was not even until June 2015 that gay marriage became legal in the US. Even now, this fundamental human right is under attack.

Discrimination in the workplace can also lead to problems for those in the LGBTQ community who are trying to find employment opportunities or even just jobs where they feel safe and welcome. When looking for jobs online or through other means, those in this community need to take precautions so that their personal information does not become public knowledge which could lead to them getting fired from their job or being discriminated against at work. Nearly 1 in 10 LGBTQ people in the United States experienced workplace discrimination in the last year, and almost half faced employment bias at some point in their careers. (3).

But what does it mean to be resilient? And how does it look in the LGBTQ community?

Resilience refers to adapting to these events and recovering from trauma with positive outcomes. Resilience is "the process by which individuals reconcile with their past trauma and develop new ways of responding."

Trauma and Resilience

Trauma and resilience are the processes of overcoming the effects of trauma, whether it's emotional, physical, or mental trauma. It cannot be easy to get through this process, but with the right help, you can become healthier and stronger than you ever thought possible.

Many people think they can move on and be happy again if they "get over" their trauma. Unfortunately, this is not possible, nor is it true. Trauma affects your brain, meaning you must work through it to recover fully. It is a process that takes time. It is not a quick or temporary fix.

Like resilience, trauma recovery can take many forms. Just like many types of trauma affect people differently, there are also many ways to recover from trauma. For example, some people may work through their trauma by seeking professional counseling or therapy. In contrast, others may choose to talk about their experience with those they trust in their community or with their family or friends.

Trauma and resilience can be used to help people recover from traumatic events. It involves the use of a variety of techniques, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

• Somatic Psychotherapy

The effectiveness of these techniques varies. However, they effectively treat some symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and C-PTSD.

In trauma and resilience recovery, finding a therapist who specializes in treating trauma near you is the most effective way. They will help you take control of your mental health by providing support and information about how to manage your anxiety or depression symptoms and deal with other challenges related to trauma exposure.

We at the Phoenix Rising Centers are also here for you. With providers in many states and Puerto Rico, we are here to help. Even if we don’t have a provider in your state, we are happy to help you find someone. You don’t have to do this work alone. You are not alone. We are here for you.

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance resulted in 2019; Trends in Violence Victimization and Suicide Risk by Sexual Identity Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2015–2019

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS); NISVS: An Overview of 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation

3. UCLA School of Law, Williams Institute. LGBT People’s Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-workplace-discrimination/