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7.3: Arousal Signs of Those Who Have Experienced/Are Experiencing a Trauma

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    215481
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    Arousal Signs of Those Who Have Experienced/ Are Experiencing a Trauma:

    People react to trauma differently. Some may become aroused while others may become dissociative. Some body and behavioral reactions may include:

    Body:

    • Increased sympathetic response (heart rate, muscle tone, breathing)
    • Eye blinking becomes more prevalent
    • Pupils dilate
    • Bladder relaxes
    • Digestion is inhibited
    • External focus is on the threat
    • Internal cues are not prioritized
    • Increased peripheral circulation
    • Body prepares for flight or fight mode

    Behaviors:

    • Increased vigilance
    • Impulsive actions and reactions
    • Defiance
    • Aggression
    • Anxiety
    • Exaggerated response
    different emotions caused by trauma .png
    Image created with Canva and under no copyright.

    Although not all arousal behaviors and bodily reactions resemble those of the Incredible Hulk, many do.

    Dissociative Signs:

    Body:

    • Increased parasympathetic activity (heart rate decreases)
    • Eye blink decreases, eye roll increases
    • Pupils constrict
    • Bladder contracts
    • Digestion is stimulated
    • Internal focus increases to minimize injury
    • Peripheral circulation decreases

    Behaviors:

    • Withdrawal
    • Compliance
    • Detached from present (reenacting experiences/ engaging with internal world / talking to self)
    • Losing time, memory, or skills
    • Seeming "spaced out" or in a fog
    • Lack of connection to body or feeling pain
    stressed group of people .png
    Image created with Canva and under no copyright.

    This page titled 7.3: Arousal Signs of Those Who Have Experienced/Are Experiencing a Trauma is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Dana Rethwisch and Jennifer Marta.