Video summary
Trauma-informed care requires a deep understanding that historical trauma is not only stored in the brain but also physically within the body, causing stress responses when individuals encounter familiar environmental threats. In facility settings where residents have histories of victimization, specific actions like entering rooms without knocking or turning on lights can inadvertently trigger memories and intense anxiety. Even if staff knock, a resident who cannot see clearly due to darkness may not be oriented enough to recognize their caregiver as safe, leading to fear rather than comfort. Therefore, it is essential for caregivers to identify individual triggers and ensure that basic safety protocols, such as announcing presence before entering or using soft-close hinges on doors, are strictly followed to minimize loud noises like slamming that could remind a resident of past abusive environments.
Environmental factors beyond human interaction also play a critical role in managing trauma responses, particularly regarding natural disasters like tornadoes and thunderstorms which can be deeply triggering for those who have survived them. While it is impossible to prevent these events from occurring, facilities must ensure residents know exactly where they are safe during such incidents so that they feel empowered rather than helpless. The speaker notes that agitation caused by one person's trauma response is often contagious; if a resident becomes distressed due to weather anxiety or loud noises, the stress energy can spread rapidly through the group as others become cranky and fixated on worst-case scenarios. Consequently, staff must be vigilant in monitoring these emotional contagions and helping individuals ground themselves with affirmations that they are safe in the present moment, specifically noting their current year and location to counteract flashbacks.
Despite the necessity of conducting fire drills every shift to maintain order and ensure everyone knows how to evacuate safely, these events can still startle residents who have lived through fires or suffer from general noise sensitivity. The primary goal during such drills is not just compliance but helping individuals become desensitized over time while ensuring they understand that the procedure exists solely for their protection. If safety protocols are ignored and a situation becomes chaotic, it endangers everyone in the facility; thus, staff must balance the need for mandatory training with compassionate support to help residents process the disorienting nature of loud alarms. By combining practical measures like installing soft-close mechanisms on doors with clear communication plans for emergencies, caregivers can create an environment where trauma survivors feel secure enough to move forward without being constantly held back by past experiences or environmental triggers.
Read the full video transcript
Historical trauma can be triggered by
people entering their rooms, loud
noises, certain smells, or being unable
to see clearly and invaluate
environmental threats. This can increase
anxiety and hypervigilance. If you've
got somebody, which you do, um, if
you're in a facility,
you've got at least one person, if not
multiple, people that have a history of
trauma. they've been victimized in some
way. And so there are things that may
trigger memories of that trauma and
emotional physiological responses. We
store trauma not only in our brain but
also in our body. So that stress
response kicks off when we start feeling
like it's a similar situation and that's
when we have to check the facts in this
context at this time. But we also want
to mitigate and minimize exposure to
things that we know are going to set the
person off. Um, we don't want to enter
their rooms without knocking, without
turning on a light. You know, you don't
want to
enter their room, especially without
knocking in the dark and go over and put
something on their bedside table when
they're sleeping. If they wake up, that
may freak them the heck out.
Even if you do knock, if they can't see
you, especially if they were in a deep
sleep, they may not be oriented enough
to think, "Oh, this is the night nurse
bringing me my meds." So, it's important
that we figure out what people's trauma
triggers are so they can feel safe.
Certain loud noises can be triggering or
reminiscent for some people. and knowing
what to do. In here in Tennessee, we
have a lot of tornadoes and thunder,
loud thunder or really loud wind can
actually be triggering for some people
because they've lived through a tornado
and they it reminds them of that and
they're like, "Oh crap, what if that
happens again?" Facts in this context at
this time. So, in your facility, making
sure or wherever they are, making sure
that they know what the plan is to stay
safe. Making sure that they know if they
have tornado anxiety,
making sure that they know
where they can go and that there is
something they can do to protect
themselves so they feel safe and
empowered. Can you prevent a tornado
from coming? Absolutely not. But can you
have rooms where people will be safe?
Absolutely. And that's what's important
to help people feel safe and empowered.
We'll take care of the rest of the
stuff, but if you're safe, then we can
move on from there.
And that that is really important
because
if one or more people start in your
facility start getting agitated, it
spreads. It's contagious a lot of times.
Um, and people will either go to their
rooms because they don't want to be
around the the stress energy or other
people will start getting cranky and
they'll start ramping each other up
talking about, you know, worstcase
scenarios and oh my gosh and sitting
there glued to the Weather Channel. Oh
my gosh. glued to the weather channel,
which
does nothing but for a lot of people but
increase their stress. So, it's
important to be aware and for some
people it's helpful because you can see
where those little um areas of um
circulation or whatever they call them
are popping up and know that okay,
that's nowhere near me. I'm good. For
other people, it's just stressful. Um,
but figuring out what works for each
individual is important. Taking into
consideration sounds in your
environment. Um, doors banging, if they
came from a abusive environment, um,
maybe not recently, but maybe when they
were a kid. um they were in an abusive
environment where people were harmed,
where doors were slammed, where it was
really ugly. When doors are slammed now,
it can trigger that memory. We store
that. Our body says, "I'm not doing that
again." We need to recognize that. Can
we prevent doors from being slammed all
the time? 100%. No.
um and helping people develop skills to
rec to get grounded and remember where
and when they are. I am in the year
2025. I am safe. I am not back there. I
am safe where I am. That is helpful. But
we can also do what we can to make sure
that doors are have hinges that are set
to do the soft close that, you know,
there's to minimize to minimize the
slamming and the loud noises. Um, fire
alarms can be very triggering for some
people, especially if they've lived
through a fire, but they're also just
startling. And I know we've got to do
fire drills on every shift and we used
to have to do those in residential too.
And
it was problematic. It was challenging.
Um
but it was necessary and it was
important to make sure that the
residents knew that hey this is to make
sure that you're safe. If we don't do
this, then it's a freefor-all and it's
not going to be orderly and it's not
going to be safe. So, we're going to do
this. Um,
the noise itself can be disorienting.
Helping people get oriented and um
desensitized to it can be important.