What are the Five Traumas?
Rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal and injustice: these five fundamental wounds can cause many physical, emotional and mental ailments. Lise BOURBEAU has developed a system of understanding and managing these traumas, which she calls the “Five Masks of Trauma”.
The Five Masks of Trauma
The Five Masks of Trauma, according to Lise BOURBEAU, are the five responses to traumas that we use in order to cope with them. They are:
1. The Victim Mask: This mask is used when we feel helpless, powerless, and victimized. We may blame others for our situation and feel that the world is against us.
2. The Persecutor Mask: This mask is used when we feel angry and frustrated, and we take out our anger on others. We may become aggressive, controlling and manipulative, and may even resort to violence.
3. The Controller Mask: This mask is used when we feel overwhelmed and try to control our environment. We may become overly organized and rigid, trying to control everything around us.
4. The Pleaser Mask: This mask is used when we feel inadequate and insecure. We may try to please everyone and put our own needs and desires last.
5. The Martyr Mask: This mask is used when we feel that our needs are not being met. We may become passive-aggressive, and try to manipulate others into giving us what we want.
Understanding the Masks
It is important to understand that these masks are not the cause of our traumas, but rather a response to them. Lise BOURBEAU believes that in order to heal from our traumas, we must first become aware of our masks and then learn to outsmart them.
Learning to Outsmart the Masks
Learning to outsmart our masks can be a difficult and daunting process, but it is an essential part of healing from our traumas. Lise BOURBEAU believes that by understanding our masks, and learning to recognize when we are using them, we can begin to heal from our traumas and move forward with our lives.
Understanding the Five Traumas
Rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal and injustice are all traumas that can have a deep and lasting impact on our lives. By understanding our traumas, we can begin to heal from them and move forward with our lives.
Healing from Trauma
Healing from trauma is a process that can take time and patience. Lise BOURBEAU believes that by understanding our masks and learning to outsmart them, we can begin to heal from our traumas and move forward with our lives.
Conclusion
Rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal and injustice are all traumas that can have a deep and lasting impact on our lives. By understanding our traumas, understanding our masks and learning to outsmart them, we can begin to heal from our traumas and move forward with our lives. Lise BOURBEAU has developed a system of understanding and managing these traumas, which she calls the “Five Masks of Trauma”. By understanding our masks, and learning to recognize when we are using them, we can begin to heal from our traumas and move forward with our lives.
