TRAUMA WITHIN THE HUMAN SYSTEM occurs on all four PEMS levels [Physical, Emotional, Mental and Soul] when we experience a sudden and shocking situation or event. The key words with trauma are “sudden and shocking.” Let’s say a man has a car accident and is injured. He has several broken bones, cuts that will require a lot of stitches, torn muscles and severe bruising. This is the list of what has happened to his body as a result of the accident. It’s not the trauma. The trauma is the immediate reaction on his PEMS levels from having just experienced the shock of an accident and from the sudden assault on his body and his life. The trauma comes from the sounds and sights of the accident as it’s happening. It comes from seeing glass fly all over the place. It comes from seeing blood. It comes from hearing people shout as they run toward him to help. It comes from the sudden awareness that he is in trouble and could possibly die. And it comes from knowing that his life, which was scheduled and orderly just two seconds ago, is now turned upside down and in total chaos. These reactions are part of what constitutes trauma. They are not the injuries themselves. Although directly related to the cause of the trauma, the injuries are the result of the accident, not the immediate reaction to the accident.

Our unfortunate fellow and his body are now dealing with two separate and distinct situations: (1) His immediate reaction to the accident that’s triggering the trauma, and (2) the injuries that are the result of the accident. His electric system is also dealing with two separate and distinct situations: (1) The circuits connected with each of the injury areas have suffered considerable damage and are in need of repair. (2) The damaged circuits related to the trauma he experienced at the onset of the accident need repair before the body can activate the full healing process to deal with the injuries.

Reacting to a sudden and shocking event is normal. We each have a PEMS unit of circuits that fully supports this activity. When the trauma response circuits hold their balance, we react well to a shock and are still able to think, ask and answer questions coherently, and make good decisions. When these circuits are balanced and functioning well, they automatically activate at the onset of a traumatic event and deactivate once the body has stabilized and the trauma period has passed. At that point, the body’s electric system is able to fully activate the circuits that support the healing process for each injury. The trauma circuits and the healing process circuits are two different units of circuitry within our electric system that support two different operations in our body. When dealing with a traumatic event and its damaging impact on the human system, the body responds best when these two units of circuits remain separate.

But just like any other circuits, the trauma circuits may need balancing, stabilizing and repair following the impact of a sudden and severe situation. When those circuits are damaged, we are seen as someone who is suffering from shock or said to be in a state of shock. The body and mind are fully focused on the trauma and a person’s actions and reactions reflect the damage in those circuits: He is listless, dazed, his face is drained of color, he’s unable to speak clearly or answer questions, he slides in and out of consciousness . . .

That first twenty minutes is a critical window when dealing with trauma. During this time, the trauma symptoms and the injury symptoms remain separate electrically, making the trauma circuits easier to isolate and repair. However, when damaged trauma circuits aren’t addressed in the first twenty minutes, they do not deactivate. Instead they begin to overlay, connect to and weave with the damaged circuits connected to the area that has been injured, thus complicating the injury. It’s not a “clean” injury any more. Now it’s an injury that carries with it the damaged trauma circuits and its symptoms. This impedes the normal healing process, and it is more difficult for the body to recover. Instead of dealing with two separate and distinct situations, each with its own set of circuits, we are now dealing with one larger and more complex situation made up of the damaged circuits connected with the trauma response and damaged circuits that are in the body area that has been injured. A more extensive healing process and medical approach are now needed and there is a greater chance for complications to occur.

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