Stress…Strauma…Trauma

Lately I have discovered a gap in the English language. My family, friends and colleagues usually laugh at my created terms, but often end up using them because there are no viable alternatives. In this case, English is missing a word to describe the state of almost continuous, high level stress. Trauma is the closest word but is usually reserved for near death experiences, not the damage inflicted by significant, ongoing stress. I have come to use the word, strauma, which is a hybrid of stress and trauma.
Stress is an interesting word that invokes varying responses. It is a word with a great deal of gradation. The grading runs from being dead (no stress) to system shutdown (very high stress). At the one end, low to moderate stress can actually be helpful. Without some stress, our motivation often collapses. At the high end there are two different issues: sudden, intense stress and the soul and body eating, persistent high stress.
A typical human neuro-system is resilient to most stress that is short term. We are built to respond to sudden attack or deprivation. It is the long term stress that many people endure either by choice or necessity that corrodes our body and brain system over time. In modern life, our short term fight or flight responses are not as common as our often self imposed strauma.
To help clients of all ages to become aware of their internal stress to strauma levels, I often suggest a color chart. Depending on the age and ability of the client it can be a 3 or 5 point scale.
Five Point Stress to Strauma Scale:

Blue: Sluggish, low energy, sleepy

Green: Relaxed, non-stressful time and feeling, recreation

Yellow: Attentive, usual school and work rhythm

Orange: Building Strauma alert, too highly stressed for too long (different for everyone), autonomic nervous system signaling impending overwhelm

Red: Fight, flight or freeze activated, lower brain reacts for safety

The three point scale is as above without the blue or red levels. Many people attempt to stay in the orange area too long, thinking this is most productive. However, many studies show that it is a penny wise, pound foolish investment. As with a marathon runner, establishing a pace that can be sustained is most efficient and saves health and wellness.

Tuning In and Out

Isn’t it interesting that tuning out can mean tuning in? If we tune out of
life’s environmental distractions to take stock of the internal environment
and our neurodevelopmental resources, we find gifts of health and awareness.
However, if we tune out our inner messengers and focus only on the outer world,
we can miss important messages. When we miss these messages, our interior
and neurodevelopmental resources must get our attention through physical,
mental and emotional means that are not always pleasant.





















The rhythm of life requires inbreathing and outbreathing. There needs
to be a balance of tuning in and reaching out in our lives. Take time to
tune in during physical exercise, prayer, eating and other sensory experiences.
Examine how reaching out into the exterior environment affects the other spheres.
The essence of our being is life fully experienced in the inner and outer world
through each step of our human development.