Understanding Typing from the Bottom: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Healing

Typing from the Bottom as a Trauma Response

Typing from the bottom as a trauma response is a coping mechanism where individuals with past traumatic experiences tend to minimize their own needs and prioritize the needs of others [1]. This behavior is often driven by an inner need to seek validation and avoid conflict or rejection. It can be seen as an attempt to ensure physical and emotional safety, even if it may interfere with personal flourishing. For instance, a person who experienced neglect in their childhood might constantly put others’ needs before their own, hoping to avoid feelings of abandonment.

Approaching this topic requires sensitivity and a deep understanding of the trauma-informed care approach. It’s important to recognize it not as a flaw but as a survival strategy that has been adopted in response to past traumas. By understanding the root of these behaviors, we can help individuals navigate their trauma responses in a healthier, more balanced way.

Coping Mechanisms for Trauma Responses

There are several bottom-up coping techniques that can be effective in addressing trauma responses. These include rhythmic movement, open postures, sensory grounding techniques, active muscle relaxation, and diaphragmatic deep breathing [2]. For instance, rhythmic movement, such as dancing or throwing a ball, can serve as a natural way to self-soothe and reduce traumatic stress.

These techniques can help manage stress and promote a healthier balance in life. However, it’s essential to understand that coping skills are not one size fits all. What works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, individuals should be encouraged to make every skill their own, have realistic expectations, and combine successful skills that best fit their needs and situations.

The Neuro-Sequential Model of Therapeutics for Developmental Trauma

Developmental trauma refers to a set of profound problems in all areas of a child’s development, not just attachment, and can significantly impact a child’s life. In response to this, the Neuro-Sequential Model of Therapeutics offers an innovative approach to help children with developmental trauma. This model emphasizes a holistic and whole-life approach to recovery, which includes stabilizing the child’s home and school environment and regulating their brainstem.

Addressing the brainstem is crucial for successful treatment as the brain develops from the bottom up. Consistent, predictable, and frequent activities are needed to re-train the brainstem and regulate the child’s senses. For example, a child with developmental trauma might benefit from a predictable routine that includes regular meals, bedtime, and playtime.

Dysregulation in Trauma Survivors

Dysregulation is a widespread issue affecting individuals who have experienced trauma. It occurs when a person has an outsized reaction to an event or trigger and is unable to control their behavior. This can take many forms, such as shouting, hitting, agitation, and extreme anxiety [4].

Dysregulation can be caused by various factors including mental or physical illness, lack of social-emotional learning, or trauma. It’s important to understand dysregulation as a language of trauma. Rather than asking “What is wrong with you?” when confronted with a dysregulated person, it is more helpful to ask “What happened to you?” [4].

Re-regulation Tools and Strategies

There are several re-regulation tools and strategies that can assist in managing dysregulation in individuals who have experienced trauma. These include prevention, identifying clues, hypervigilance, and processing in place [4].

Re-regulation strategies include remaining calm, asking questions, providing choices, using affective statements, and offering distractions and tactile experiences. For example, a teacher might ask a dysregulated student about their favorite game to distract them from a perceived threat, thus helping them regain control over their emotions.

It’s also important to prepare for dysregulation in advance and share strategies with potential dysregulated individuals. This can help prevent dysregulation episodes and ensure a safer and more understanding environment for everyone involved.

Summary and Call for Trauma-Informed Care

Understanding and addressing the phenomenon of typing from the bottom as a trauma response is crucial in supporting individuals who have experienced trauma. It’s crucial to promote trauma-informed care and emphasize the importance of long-term holistic approaches in the healing process. Moreover, the need for safe, regular, consistent, and healthy relationships in the healing process cannot be overstated. Only then can we ensure a healthier, more balanced life for individuals dealing with trauma.