Trauma Spiritual Info

Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Resulting fear can cause us to be looking over our shoulder , expecting trouble as in the original event. Abuse, accident, divorce, rejection etc. can set the stage for negative life experiences. There could exist an ongoing sense that the event is still happening.

Perhaps you know someone who survived a near death experience, or lived through war, child or domestic abuse, been in an accident or was at the scene of an accident, severely injured , the list goes on. One might ask, "were any of these things God's will?" We can say definitely no according to scripture. God does no evil. Psalm 5:4 says,

"For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee."

If you are born again, a believer in Jesus Christ as savior, and have God's spirit living in you then God is your protector. (See Psalm 91) It says, "no evil shall befall you."

Trauma symptoms all represent something evil. Fear, anger, or guilt are reactions to trauma that the enemy of our soul attempts to saddle us with.

These are forms of evil, (spirits) trying to take people captive because of fear!

I cannot tell of all the times I was protected from imminent evil accidents, robbery, harm, sickness etc. Thank God! I do believe God can protect us also from any associated traumas.

Let's break this down for our comprehension. This is what secular psychology sources say about this subject.

Trauma symptoms or reactions

reference: NCBI website/Trauma Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services/SAMHSA

Immediate Emotional Reactions Numbness and detachment Anxiety or severe fear Guilt (including survivor guilt) Exhilaration as a result of surviving Anger Sadness Helplessness Feeling unreal; depersonalization Disorientation Feeling out of control Denial Constriction of feelings Feeling overwhelmed

Delayed Emotional Reactions Irritability and/or hostility Depression Mood swings, instability Anxiety (e.g., phobia, generalized anxiety) Fear of trauma recurrence Grief reactions Shame Feelings of fragility and/or vulnerability Emotional detachment from anything that requires emotional reactions (e.g., significant and/or family relationships, conversations about self, discussion of traumatic events or reactions to them).

Other Reactions Startled reaction

Restlessness Sleep and appetite disturbances

Difficulty expressing oneself Argumentative behavior Increased use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco Withdrawal and apathy, isolation Avoidant behaviors, high risk behaviors chronic pain panic attacks

*It is important to connect the psychological understanding to the spiritual with these reactions. Most of these are found in Gene Moody's Deliverance Manual written in the early 1990's under the same topic of trauma. Most of the "reactions" in the book are listed as demons to be cast out!

Common trauma responses or signs of trauma related stress

Responses will vary and some will want to discuss the events they experienced and others will not. Both types of survivors whether they process or not are deemed psychologically healthy.

Trauma can affect one’s beliefs about the future via loss of hope, limited expectations about life, fear that life will end abruptly or early, or anticipation that normal life events won’t occur (e.g., access to education, ability to have a significant and committed relationship, good opportunities for work).

Beyond the initial emotional reactions during the event, those most likely to surface include anger, fear, sadness, and shame. However, individuals may encounter difficulty in identifying any of these feelings for various reasons . Numbness or lack of emotions may be an opposite reaction =denial.

Basically the memory is keeping someone on watch for threats that they have previously experienced. The brain's Amygdala gets involved and acts as an early warning system against anything resembling a previous threat to our safety.

What happens when one feels they are threatened? Fight or flight or freeze responses, can come into play until the perceived danger passes. Sometimes, hyper arousal can produce overreactions to situations perceived as dangerous when, in fact, the circumstances are safe.

There are disorders which develop from trauma responses.

Types of cognitive or thought-process changes that can occur in response to traumatic stress.

Misinterpreting current situations

Excessive guilt

Inaccurate rationalizations

Delusions

Intrusive thoughts and memories

Feeling different than others

Dissociation - Dissociation is a mental process that severs connections among a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, and/or sense of identity. Most of us have experienced dissociation—losing the ability to recall or track a particular action (e.g., arriving at work but not remembering the last minutes of the drive). People who have experienced severe or developmental trauma may have learned to separate themselves from distress to survive.

PTSD symptoms are represented in a number of other mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders.

This disorder represents significant distress coming from events such as threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Some people may have minimal symptoms after a trauma but then experience a crisis later in life. Trauma symptoms can appear suddenly, even without conscious memory of the original trauma or without any overt provocation. Survivors of abuse in childhood can have a delayed response triggered by something that happens to them as adults.

This is a very involved subject, which we have barely skimmed the surface of, but for our purposes of prayer, will suffice.

reference: NCBI website/Trauma Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services/SAMHSA

Now that we know evil is the culprit, let's look at the answer!

God has made a way of escape for any who are afflicted with trauma, and His name is Jesus.

Read Exodus 14:27-31

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted

Notice that the "griefs and sorrows" are something the enemy does and "He hath borne" is what God did! Griefs are things like sickness, or affliction, and sorrows are - pain, physical, and mental, or (trauma), as a result of sin.

According to Scripture, the Lord has already taken away our traumas. Jesus, Himself was wounded for our transgressions. As we begin to realize and believe this, His truth will begin to make us free. Continue in His Word and you will be free indeed.

If you have any of these symptoms I mentioned and can remember an incident when this might have happened chances are you've experienced trauma. Healing of traumas is what God does. We pray and God heals! Amen Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 29:25 says, "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe!"

Where to start ? Forgiveness of anyone involved in your trauma. Ask the Holy Spirit for help remembering. Some of those involved may be from past generations. Forgive yourself. Cast out the spirit of trauma and spirits of fear that came in with the event. (in Jesus name)

Contributing spirits -(additional entities that may require ministry) -Anxiety, Anger, Addiction, Becoming easily overwhelmed, Bitterness spirits, Chronic pain, Depression, Denial, Emotional outbursts, Headaches, Isolation and withdrawal, low self esteem, numbness, Out of control, Occultism, Poor concentration, Panic attacks, Repressed memories, Rage, Racing heart,( triggered by stress), Self victimization, Shock, Sadness, Survivors guilt, Shame, Death(some of these might be generational)

reference: Gene Moody Deliverance Manual (copyright free) circa 1990's

*Visit Healing Hub or call for a prayer appointment - 612-406-2531