Chasing Glimmers
Do you find your past trauma is easily triggered, affecting you in the here and now? The opposite of a trigger is called a glimmer and can make a huge difference to your emotional state.
As a trauma specialist, my first step with a client is to assess their resilience and tolerance of the pain they are carrying inside. Then we build on it. Not only does this provide some immediate relief, but it establishes a foundation to see them through the hard work of trauma processing and healing. Anyone who has peeked into the world of trauma and the impact on humans knows about triggers and that identifying what your personal triggers are can be helpful in managing your behavioral reactions and regulating your emotional responses. However, this can at times feel like we are on edge – always on the lookout for the next bad thing or the next sight, smell or physical experience that will send us into a tailspin of Fight, Flight or Freeze.
What we need is to add balance to this system and develop the counterpart of our autonomic nervous system. That’s where “glimmers” come in. They’re the exact opposite of a trigger.
The coolest thing about our bodies is that we are hardwired to respond emotionally to our imaginations and sensory environment. This is partially why we can be so moved by poetry, guided imagery, art, and a great home cooked meal. So while a trigger can set off an often overwhelming wave of negative sensory and visual reminders of the worst things we have experienced, a glimmer can set off an equally powerful and soothing wave of sensory and visual comfort. It is also a vital way to balance our hypervigilance to triggers with a vigilance to the beauty and joy around us. The goal is to rewire a brain bathed in trauma and negative anticipation of experiences.
So what is a glimmer? Coined by Deb Dana, a Polyvagal Theory Practitioner and Researcher, a glimmer is “not just tiny moments that bring joy or happiness, they can also spark ease, relaxation, safety, connection, or a feeling that the world is OK even for a fleeting moment.” (See the full USA Today interview here.) While glimmers won't fix underlying trauma, they can provide micro moments of respite from those negative inner memories and reactions. Sometimes those micro moments can make all the difference in the world, no matter how small.
“While glimmers won’t fix underlying trauma, they can provide micro moments of respite from those negative inner memories and reactions.”
For me, a glimmer might be the way the sunlight sparkles on the snow and if I squint just right, it looks as if they are dancing and beautifully capturing the full spectrum of color hidden in tiny worlds around us. It sparks moments of awe which have also been found to be very therapeutic and resettling for our human bodies. It’s the sound of my daughter hiding in a cupboard, giggling and eagerly waiting to be surprised and tickled. It’s the soft plush fur of Obi's head as he slides under my elbow for a snuggle and reminds me the world is full of luxurious comfort. It’s the scent of Alberta sunshine laced with peppery spruce, reminding me to slow down and watch the clouds overhead. In these moments, I am inspired, comforted, and slowed to a pace that reminds me that in this moment, all is ok. It is a calm in the eye of the swirling storm that is life.
I hope you can find a glimmer today and savour that moment. Gather whatever you need to weather your storm and soothe your nervous system.
