Trauma Reshapes Trust-Building Behaviors
Trauma is a psychological response to an event that threatens the person's safety or wellbeing. It can lead to fear, anxiety, helplessness, or disassociation. People who have experienced traumatic events may develop coping strategies to avoid reminders of their experience or protect themselves from future harm. One way this can manifest is through changes in trust-building behaviors.
Eye contact is often used as a signal of attraction, interest, and connection between people.
For someone with trauma, eye contact can be seen as invasive or threatening. This can cause them to look away or avoid eye contact altogether. People who are trying to build trust may find it difficult to do so when one person is looking away or appearing uninterested.
Open conversation is another important part of building trust. When someone has been hurt or betrayed, they may become more guarded about sharing personal information or expressing vulnerability. They may appear closed off or aloof, making it difficult to connect emotionally.
Someone who was abused as a child might find it hard to open up to others about their feelings or share intimate details about their life.
Affectionate touch is also an essential component of trust-building. Physical closeness and affection help create a sense of security and comfort. People who have experienced trauma may be wary of physical contact or touch because of past experiences where they felt threatened or violated. This can make it challenging to establish emotional connections with others.
Trauma can also change how people view the world around them. They may become hypervigilant, always scanning for potential threats or danger. This makes it harder to relax and let go of defenses, which can impact trust-building. It can also lead to anxiety or paranoia, further complicating communication and relationships.
Trauma can significantly reshape trust-building behaviors such as eye contact, open conversation, and affectionate touch. Understanding these changes can help individuals navigate new relationships and build healthy connections. With patience and understanding, those who have experienced trauma can learn to rebuild trust in safe, supportive environments.
How does trauma reshape the meaning of trust-building behaviors such as eye contact, open conversation, or affectionate touch?
Trauma can alter an individual's interpretation and experience of trust-building behaviors such as eye contact, open conversation, or affectionate touch by rewiring their brain's threat response system. This can lead to hypervigilance, anxiety, avoidance, or intrusive thoughts associated with these behaviors. As a result, people who have experienced trauma may struggle to form healthy relationships and intimacy due to fears of abandonment or betrayal.