Crime, domestic violence, chronic illness, withdrawal, addiction and crippling anxiety are just some of the multigenerational effects of childhood trauma.
But local woman Trish Johansen has spent much of the last 2 ½ years proving to herself and others that the brain chemistry changes that childhood trauma inflicts are reversible.
The former Queenstown veterinarian, who now spends much of her time running a vet clinic and rabies eradication charity in Cambodia, says when you grow up experiencing the world as a really dangerous place, your subconscious does everything it can to make you safer.
A desire for both closure and to have an impact on legislation to protect vulnerable families led her to take part in the Royal Commission of Enquiry into abuse in state care and faith-based institutions.
The mental turmoil that resulted from forcing memories that her brain had suppressed to resurface eventually led her to counselling, where she learned to switch off her negative childhood protection methods – like overwork – and move forward.
“When you believe you’re worthless and stupid, because that’s what you’re told and how you’re treated, your survival instinct is to put up barriers. You blame yourself for everything; getting drunk, being addicted, getting beaten up…”
“It is not until you’ve untangled all that programming, and let it go, that you can create healthy habits.”
That untangling, says Trish, is much easier if understood and supported by your community. Come along to this Catalyst Kōrero to find out more.
Sunday, May 26, 6 to 7:30 pm at The Rees Hotel Queenstown’s conference room. Registration required here to ensure your seat. Please bring cash for your koha, this will be given to Eradicate Rabies One Village at a Time, to help save vulnerable communities, already traumatised by the Khmer Rouge, from preventable deaths.