OCTOBER DEVOTION – DAY – 20 – THE HOLY ROSARY – TRAUMA HEALING

Trauma is the Greek word for “wound.” It is wound in the heart that is overwhelming due to intense shock, fear, anxiety, helplessness or horror (Ps. 109:22). God made us to be resilient but there comes an event that overwhelms us and because we must survive, the limbic system (the feeling mechanism of the brain) quickly floods the muscles with blood supply and our bodies with adrenaline, so that we can make a fast exit or stand and defend ourselves (fight or flight). At this point the prefrontal cortex (the thinking mechanism of the brain) remains shut off. Because the prefrontal cortex is shut off and not functioning to process the fears, shocks and threats associated with an event, then such feelings are repressed, “forgotten about,” or split out of consciousness. Later, repeated signals will trigger the previous repressed feelings and lead to trauma.

Maybe we have experienced trauma from an injury or severe abuse or neglect. The Rosary is a comforter in moments of traumatic experiences, because it is a rote, yet meditative, prayer that eases fear, anxiety, panicking and sadness when we cannot control our external circumstances. Please pray the Rosary!