Chronic Shock Syndrome

Chronic Shock
Introduction & Stage Model

Chronic Shock
• Chronic shock is the re-experiencing of a catastrophic event, and not resolving the physical/psychological effects of that catastrophe. • Many ACoAs/CoSAs, due to the rules and expectations in addictive homes, live with chronic shock.

Shock State
Physical level—
• Body is preparing to manage the disaster:
– Breathing patterns change. The person holds their breath during the initial phase, then moves to uneven breathing. (sounds like when someone is about to cry).
– Adrenaline is released.
– Heart starts beating faster, and blood pressure increases.
– Eyes look empty, vacant
– Person loses color, and may look grayish.
– Skin becomes clammy and cold.

Shock State
Emotional level—
• Mind is preparing to manage the disaster by:
• Emotions shut down. No response.
• Person feels numb- this is a defense.
• The person is shielding themselves from the event, and deflecting the fall out.
– Consider their perspective

• Person is in a shock state.

General Info.
• Important to remember: There is commonly more than one event that triggers the shock state and chronic shock. In these homes, it is often a series of traumatic events.
• The rules of the addictive home don’t allow children to process these events in a healthy way.

– They are not allowed to talk about it within the family, or seek outside support. – Don’t feel reinforces the shock state, and encourages children to remain at that stage.

Stage Model
Process of Shock and Recovery is a four stage model:
• Catastrophe/Shock Event 
• Shock State (physical & emotional reactions occur) 
• Rebound (Person begins to feel their emotions) 
• Resolution (feelings of fear, anger, loss, shame, etc. are acknowledged and resolved)
If the resolution stage is never reached, the emotions are never processed, and the person can move into chronic shock.

Stage Model
Catastrophe/Shock Event…
• Death of a parent/sibling/family member
• Imagined death of a parent/sibling/family member/self
– Remember that being a witness to violence can be extremely traumatic •
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Accident
Surgery
Physical, sexual, verbal abuse
Divorce
Etc.

Stage Model
Shock Stage…
• Physical and emotional reactions occur here
• The body is preparing for disaster, and reacts accordingly—fast heart beat, adrenaline rush, breathing changes.
• Emotional shutdown; feeling of numbness overcomes individual. • Person looks as though they’ve checked out—stare into space, have distant look in their eye, may appear grayish and have clammy, cold skin.

Stage Model
Rebound Stage…
• This is where the person wants to figure out what has just happened.
• They are willing and eager to talk about it, and are trying to figure out what they are feeling.
• Their physical reactions normalize, and they are looking for answers.
• This is where the dysfunction of an alcoholic/dependent household disrupts the process.
– The child is not allowed to process the event.
– There is no talking about what happened, no reassurance, no clarification.
– They become, and feel stuck.

•

If they do not move to the resolution stage, chronic shock sets in.

• Remember, ultimate goal is survival. Memories become repressed because the experience of them, without resolution, is confusing and painful.

Stage Model
Resolution Stage…
• Feelings of fear, uncertainty, confusion, sadness, shame, anger, etc. are discussed and processed.
• The child is allowed to grieve if necessary, and they can then begin to move back to the pre-shock state of equilibrium/homeostasis.
• Lessons can be learned from the event if processed carefully, and they understand what happened and why.
• Until this stage, children from addictive homes and those from healthy homes, can react in near exact ways.

Healthy Families and Chronic Shock…
• Trauma is explained, and it is made clear that it is a normal occurrence of life.
Everyone has distress, and it does not mean the end of the world.
• Children see the event in a realistic light and understand that they are not to blame (elimination of shame potential).
• Family provides emotional support, and allows the child to talk about the event and their reaction to it.
• The child is free to seek outside help if necessary from friends, teachers, counselors, etc.
• The event integrates into the child’s life.

– Once this process is complete, the shock is generally overcome.

Addictive Families and Chronic Shock…
Don’t talk

Don’t trust

Don’t feel

• These rules again govern how a child reacts, and how a child is allowed to react. • No emotional support or validation. The child is left to sort out their feelings on their own.
• Outside help is not sought, and the issue is not dealt with in-house either.
• Due to this emotional isolation, the child shuts down emotionally, and maintains that numb feeling.
• The emotional fallout from the event must be dealt with, and so the child finds their own way of coping:

– Memory loss
– May dissociate from the event (tell the story as if it happened to someone else)

• These coping mechanisms extend into adulthood, and will remain until the chronic shock is treated and resolved.

See you next week!