The Body Remembers: Understanding Trauma in the Digital Age
Trauma isn’t just psychological, it’s physiological. Groundbreaking research by Bessel van der Kolk (2014) demonstrates how traumatic experiences can reshape the brain, impairing the prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain responsible for rational thinking) while hyperactivating the amygdala (the brain’s alarm system). This explains why persons who experience or survive trauma often experience “triggers”, sudden stimuli or physiological reactions to what would otherwise be deemed a “normal” situation.
In Trinidad and Tobago, where there are high crime rates, economic instability and partial to complete social unease, many walk through life with chronically activated nervous systems. The person who jumps at loud bangs isn’t “being dramatic”, their body remembers a shooting. The person who panics when yelled at isn’t “too sensitive”, their nervous system recalls abuse or situations that were loud and made them feel unsafe.
Within the 21st century, trauma extends beyond physical events:
Studies show cyberbullying victims exhibit PTSD symptoms comparable to physical assault survivors (Nixon, 2014). Locally, cyber trauma can look like social media harassment, revenge porn, “call-out culture”, and being hacked/blackmailed.
Constant exposure to negative news or doom scrolling syndrome triggers hypervigilance which can be harmful to mental health (Huff, 2022). So constantly checking crime news or “negative” news every 30 minutes isn’t “staying informed” but can be traumatizing or retraumatizing.
Healthcare workers, first responders, mental health professionals, and “front-line” workers can absorb trauma through repeated exposure (Fogarty et al., 2021). So nurses, doctors, teachers in violent school and even parents can all experience secondary trauma.
Our Caribbean cultural wisdom contains both strength and stumbling blocks. Proverbs like “What don’t kill does fatten” promote resilience but can also silence legitimate pain. The landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences study (Felitti, 1998) proves childhood trauma dramatically increases risks for adult diseases, a troubling connection in Trinidad, where diabetes, hypertension, and mental health struggles are prevalent. While traditional remedies like bush medicine have value, they work best alongside, not instead of, trauma-informed therapies.
Healing begins with practical strategies. Individuals can employ somatic techniques like the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise to short-circuit panic attacks, or establish digital boundaries with scheduled news fasts. Communities must implement trauma-informed policies in workplaces and schools, particularly for high-exposure professions. Locally, TTAP-certified therapists and cyberbullying support groups provide crucial resources.
True progress demands three shifts: awareness of trauma’s physical and digital manifestations; acceptance that “praying it away” often isn’t enough; and action through policy changes and personal boundaries. As the research makes clear, the wound isn’t your fault, but healing is your responsibility. And for those around survivors? Supporting that journey isn’t just kindness, it’s our collective duty.
Would you be so kind?
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References
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults: the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(6), 774–786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.04.001
Fogarty, A., Steel, Z., Ward, P. B., Boydell, K. M., McKeon, G., & Rosenbaum, S. (2021). Trauma and Mental Health Awareness in Emergency Service Workers: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Behind the Seen Education Workshops. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4418. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094418
Huff, C. (2022). Media overload is hurting our mental health. Here are ways to manage headline stress. Https://Www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/11/strain-media-overload
Nixon, C. (2014). Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health. Adolescent Health Medicine and Therapeutics, 143–143. https://doi.org/10.2147/ahmt.s36456
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in healing of trauma. APA PsychNet. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-44678-000
