The Importance of Environment in the Healing of Trauma
“Throughout history, people of all cultures have assumed that the environment influences behavior. Now modern science is confirming that our actions, thoughts, and feelings are indeed shaped not just by our genes and neurochemistry, history and relationships, but also by our surroundings.”
— Winifred Gallagher
From a young age, I could sense how different physical spaces felt. And over the years, as I resolved chronic and debilitating anxiety, my understanding of what we are surrounded by deepened.
A soft and warm outer environment creates a physical sense of safety, which often leads the body into an inner sense of safety, too.
Clean, aesthetically pleasing environments are much more than just “nice” or “beautiful.”
A home or office that is cluttered, with harsh bright lighting, no plants and dreary colors, is not conducive to healing. Research has shown that a clean and uncluttered space reduces stress hormones and gives the brain more space to process what life hands us. Choice of color is important too; as blues, greens, soft whites and creams are much more calming to the eye and nervous system.
Nature is the always the guide.
Consider the colors in nature that our eyes have been observing since the beginning of human life on this planet.
Nature is our master co-regulator.
Nature is a great healer that we each have access to right now, for free. Bringing the colors of nature into our homes and offices offers a soothing balm to the body.
I was reminded of this during my time in the environment of a Cardiologists office.
In July of 2020, I was high on anxiety, sitting in a Cardiologists office about to have an ultrasound of my heart and a stress test due to an extraordinary amount of heart palpitations.
His office was barren, stark white, with gray benches, old monitors and paint faded cabinets. There was one photo of a fish on the wall, which I had my eyes glued to while I ran on the treadmill.
The blinds were down over the window by the bench, with a tiny hole that I could see through to the grass outside. When I reached my max of 190 bpm on the treadmill, I was asked to step off, take a few breaths, and sit down on that bench and let my heart rate come down, but it didn’t.
My nervous system was on high alert entering that room having just been diagnosed with ‘panic disorder’ and additionally terrified about doing a stress test.
My heart continued to hover steadily around 165 bpm while I sat there with the electrodes on my chest trying to breathe.
The only thing I could do was peek through that tiny hole through the blinds, to see the grass and connect with the earth. It was all my eyes wanted to look at, they were glued; and as I focused there, looking out at the grass, my heart rate slowed a little and then a little more.
If his office had been painted with softer colors, had more pictures of nature, plants, soft lighting and the ability to see properly through the window, I can guarantee my heart would have made it’s way below 160 while sitting there, because my body would have felt a greater sense of safety.
Once I got outside, I absorbed the sky and the trees; my breath deepened and my heart settled. I couldn’t wait to return home to my sacred space.
The sacred space I had created at home was my anchor when I was experiencing daily panic attacks. Unable to work, I was supported by Temporary Disability Insurance, allowing me to spend hours in my space morning and night. Being with myself, reading, journaling, listening to bi-lateral stimulation music, lighting candles, doing yoga, consciously breathing, toning my vagus nerve and honestly, praying for a higher power to help.
This outer anchor is important for highly sensitive women. Having a sacred space in the home begins the foundational process of reducing anxiety and overwhelm, because when we create a space in our home that feels safe and familiar, it brings safety to the body.
The same concept becomes true of the environment of practitioners working in the field of trauma healing. With virtual platforms being on the rise, many are now offering healing, therapy, counseling, mentoring and coaching solely online. While this has many wonderful benefits, it is important for the practitioner to be in the same physical location when they are working with a client via a virtual space.
The location sets up further safety for the client to be familiarized with the objects in the space. Our eyes naturally orient to our environment, and our body feels more comfortable when we see the same items over and over, especially when in the realm of healing trauma.
And now for one of the most important pieces for healing?
A safe environment with your close network of people.
It is crucial to be in connection and co-regulation with safe others, who are generally regulated and/or have the capacity for self-regulation. It is essential to work with and regularly spend time with grounded, consistent, reliable, stable and emotionally mature people.
People whose words match their actions. People who do what they say they’ll do. People who hold their commitments more often than not. People who show up. People who care.
It is often not helpful to spend much time with those who regularly dismiss or minimize your experiences, especially while you are healing.
This is where boundaries (self-limits) are best applied.
Some people don’t realize they are dismissing or minimizing you, it usually is not intentional. But it’s up to you to care for you in this scenario, it is up to you to protect yourself from what doesn’t feel supportive.
Remembering that boundaries are, simply put, self-limits and self-care. Boundaries are what is ok and what is not ok moment by moment.
Boundaries don’t need to be a brick wall. However, when we’re first learning how to set them, brick walls may happen. Be gentle with yourself when learning how to implement boundaries for the first time in your life.
Over time, it becomes easier and more fluid.
In case you need it, here are a few signs showing you when you need to set boundaries:
You end up feeling very depleted and drained or irritated/frustrated/frazzled after spending time with someone or saying yes to someone/something that really felt like a no.
A few signs you’re in the green zone with supportive people:
You may feel neutral, light, at ease and expansive around those who feel supportive and safe to you.
Stay true to you.
Trust in the wisdom of your body.
It is speaking all the time.
Our nervous system knows who feels safe and who doesn’t.
Our nervous system is talking to us constantly; it’s our job to learn how to listen and trust it.
As we listen and follow it’s wisdom, we begin to heal.
If you’d like to learn more about my story, go here.
