“Connection is the antidote to the isolation that trauma creates. Through connection, we find safety, support and.the possibility of healing.”
- Deb Dana
A trigger is a stimulus that causes a reaction, often an emotional response, related to unpleasant past experience. It can cause panic, anxiety, negative self-talk and despair. A trigger reacquaints us with the feeling that accompanied a past traumatic experience, bringing it back and causing us to experience a bit of it again. An example would be a clap of thunder for someone who experienced a trauma involving a loud noise. My dog actually has this trigger!
A “glimmer” is the opposite of a trigger. Glimmer is a word coined by psychotherapist Deb Dana, LCSW, who has done great pioneering work with polyvagal theory, which posits a connection between activation of the vagus nerve and the regulation of the nervous system, a subject we can look at in greater detail. detail another day. A glimmer is a micro-moment of regulation that fosters feelings of well-being, causing the nervous system to feel safe and calm. It can be a thought, a feeling, a taste, a smell, or something in the physical world, like a beautiful flower or sunset. It can be your favorite coffee mug, the seat you usually take in Starbucks or your favorite song. If we think of nervous system regulation as a road, triggers go in the direction of dysregulation, whereas a glimmer takes us in the opposite direction, toward calm and safety.
Glimmers are naturally occurring; we all have them. Awareness of them depends on how much we are paying attention. Many of us miss them entirely. But it’s also true that we unconsciously seek them, by choosing that mug or that song. Dana suggests that the more we develop an awareness of glimmers, the better we become at regulating our nervous systems, keeping us in grounded, comfortable places, away from the fight /flight/freeze experience of dysregulation brought on by intense stress.
Consider the difficulties we are having as a country right now. Regardless of your point of view, the divide and conflict in the present day United States are causing us all significant trouble and emotional turmoil, unless we’re not paying attention. Finding glimmers in such trying times is a highly adaptive process. Perhaps we notice and appreciate the smell of our shampoo, or take a moment to admire an unusual and beautiful cloud formation. The idea is to look for these moments and hold on to them as long as we can. According to Dana, the longer we can hold on to the pleasant feeling that the glimmer brings, the more our nervous systems move from survival to thriving mode. They help us discharge the stress hormone cortisol from previous experiences.
Glimmers are small and easy to miss, but they are very helpful and require nothing more than awareness. Just as we get worn down by unpleasant stimuli that we encounter throughout the day, we can train ourselves to notice the stimuli that help support us and make us feel more secure. It may help to set an intention to look for these little positive moments. They are always there, waiting for us.
Glimmers are a Godsend to those of us who suffer from PTSD. They can slowly recondition us to be much more aware of the positives that are right in front of us. If this soundslike I’m talking about you and you’d like to talk about it, please hit the “Book a Session” button!
