Understanding Trauma Re-enactment

The idea that people repeat traumatic experiences unconsciously is not a new one. Sigmund Freud coined the term ‘Repetition Compulsion’ in response to observing some of his patients repeatedly return to abusive situations, and Sandra Bloom’s work in this area has further helped us understand it. In her article ‘Trauma Re-enactment’ published in 2006 she states:

“Behavioral re-enactments are unconscious, completely outside of the person's awareness and from their perspective, unconnected to events of the past. Re-enactment behavior often takes the form of risky, dangerous behavior that results in the revictimization of the individual or the revictimization of other people. Education helps. A vital part of treatment is helping people to recognize the patterns of their own self-destructive behavior and helping them to see how these patterns relate to the terrible things that have happened to them in the past.”

Repetition compulsion is common amongst sexual abuse survivors (Bloom, 2006, p. 2). It often presents as an unconscious drive to either replicate the role of the victim or persecutor in future relationships. These behaviours could be re-enacted or repeated through play, with other children, or through promiscuous behaviour with adults (Bloom, 2006). Young people will sometimes believe they are in control of their drive to repeat traumatic experiences, even holding an apparent maturity about it that may cause adults to mistakenly think that the young person is not in any kind of danger. It is very possible, likely even, that complex trauma and the re-enactment of this trauma propels victims towards encounters resembling their original trauma which carry negative psychological impacts.

A core impact of childhood sexual abuse is shame (Ridley, 1993, p. 13). Regulating shame in children is the work of attuned parents. Without these attuned experiences, shame can go on unprocessed and become toxic. The child often does not know what to do with these difficult feelings.

How to help children experiencing trauma re-enactment:

• Focus on ‘filing the emotional cup’ of the child - outings, activities, praise and affirmation, play, art, fun. There can be no ‘overdoing it’ in regards to making these children feel special and loved. The repetition of these experiences, especially in an intensive way, will help to overcome the emptiness that drives trauma re-enactment.

• Consider activities that are highly regulating, such as swimming and horse riding.

• Provide the child with a sensory box to help them find better ways to regulate themselves.

• Therapeutic conversations can be used to help the child understand what is happening for them and reduce the trauma re-enactment behaviour - talk to a Therapeutic Specialist about how to do this.