How Trauma SHATTERS You

Dissociation: integrative deficit, not defense (child has few active defenses), symptoms (psychoform and somatoform).
Integration and adaptive behavior depend on synthesis (association of all components of experiences and functions into meaningful coherent mental structures both episodically and across time) and realization (analysis and assimilation via personification and presentification - bring past and future to bear on present, mindfulness and reflexivity).
Depersonalization is failure in personification (semantic not episodic memory, see my vid).
Trauma reduces integrative capacity. In premorbid personalities with low integrative capacity, may lead to dissociation.
Action systems (inborn, self-organizing, self-stabilizing, and homeostatic emotional operating systems): 1. Guides daily living and survival of the species 2. Physical defense under threat (4 Fs) 1+2 = social defense against abandonment and rejection (haywire in BPD) and interoreceptive defense against mental content (=defense mechanisms, primitive like splitting or sophisticated like passive-aggression).
Charles Samuel Myers 1940 in acutely traumatized war veterans: AS1 linked to ANP (apparently normal parts) AS2 linked to EP (emotional parts of the personality). Myers called them “personalities”, but today we call them “parts”.
EP contains vivid trauma recall (FLASHBACKS) and vehement negative emotionality (fear, horror, helplessness, anger, guilt, shame - or listless, non-responsive, submissive - or derealized and depersonalized). They are linked to body dysmorphia and separate sense of self.
ANP represses traumatic memories and avoids triggers via amnesia, sensory anesthesia, restricted emotions, numbness, depersonalization.
ANP conditioned to fear EP and reacts to intrusion by altering or lowering consciousness, substance abuse, addictions, compulsions, self-mutilation (to silence inner voice of EP), phobias or mental action, of dissociative parts, attachment and intimacy, attachment loss, normal life and change, evaluative conditioning (associating neutral stimuli with negative or positive outcomes and feelings owing to prior association with negative or positive stimuli), diversion, estrangement.
Individual can have one of each (Primary SD), one ANP and two or more EP (Secondary), or multiple ANP and EP (Tertiary).
Both ANP and EP have rudimentary sense of self (“I”) and exclusive access to some memories (=identity, see my lecture to Rostov students).
Dissociative parts vary in degree of intrusion and avoidance of trauma-related cues, affect regulation, psychological defenses, capacity for insight, response to stimuli, body movements, behaviors, cognitive schemas, attention, attachment styles, sense of self, self-destructiveness, promiscuity, suicidality, flexibility and adaptability in daily life, structural division, autonomy, number, subjective experience, overt manifestations, dissociative symptoms (negative like amnesia, numbness, impaired thinking, loss of skills, needs, wishes, fantasies, loss of motor functions or skills, loss of sensation; or positive when mental content or functions of one part introduce on another part’s - psychotic/schizophrenioa like voices, nonvolitional behaviors, tics, pains; psychoform or somatoform=conversion symptoms).
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[@prabhacalderon2023]

Dear professor Sam Vaknin, you are the only person I know who consistently speaks the truth about the subjects you teach. I understand that the truth can be difficult for many to hear, which may be why some judge you and project their paranoia onto you. I want to express my gratitude for everything you have taught me; no psychologist could have helped me as profoundly as you have. At 67 years old, I finally feel as though I've reached adulthood, thanks to your guidance. I see you as human, compassionate, and loving.

[@susantalebzadeh9741]

Me too!

[@TheMissSavage]

The first 4 minutes must be the most outrageously hilarious introduction to a video that I hsve seen in a long time. Maybr because I dont often watch videos on youtube and I carefully select what I watch. Your sense of humour is exquisite - I am utterly delighted. I am not angry if you delete this comment.

[@neveragain733]

Its the wine!

[@neveragain733]

Youre killing me Sam. People are going mad

[@neveragain733]

Thw anti christ has the best haircut!

[@TeddyRidal]

Sam is a Samantha. A genetic female (to-male) and trans man.

[@sharon_rose724]

​@@TeddyRidalOh, you're one of those 🙄

[@debraparker6404]

So complicated but also so interesting. I will listen again.

[@noturnleftunstoned72]

This one hits home hard for me and a lot of people watching I will guess.

[@gillianmir6387]

Your videos are amazing I’ve been watching for a few years now and I have learned so much.. I wouldn’t even watch anyone else on these subjects now… 25 years of narcissism in my life and it’s still around me in work places etc.. I can sense it a mile off now.. I work with teenagers suffering trauma… your videos are like food and water to me I understand everything you say and you describe everything to the exact details.. thank you so much for your amazing videos

[@NextLineIsMine]

I laughed my butt off when I realized Vaknin really is the upstream authority on the subject once all the taxonomy clicked. How lucky we are that trauma and grandiosity pushed a man to become the cutting edge of understanding it.

[@Benjaminpyatt]

Professor Vaknin demonstrates his brilliance and dedication again, very good information very well and thoughtfully presented

[@olegal]

I needed my (almost) daily dose of Sam. Great topic, as usual. ❤

[@talkbrian1522]

❤ most comprehensive... The best rundown of how things really work in psychology -...😊 Finally all the other diagnoses should be discontinued

[@Skepticof]

Excellent content. Please consider making a video about redemption of mentally ill family victims. Please don't say, run or leave!

[@Camposdarko]

If it’s family I feel it’s different, i feel you can’t run away , but For sure distance yourself for your own mental health , if they don’t accept help.

[@Skepticof]

@Camposdarko That's the thing, he mostly tells us to walk away. Some just can't.

[@SherriFlemming]

​@@Skepticof Estrangement is a choice. Toxic Parents by Susan Forward

[@TheMissSavage]

This is really interesting. I am starting to think that we are all somehow broken people.

[@DarienJDees]

Life is like a crucible 😢

[@SherriFlemming]

Many people do no therapy or personal development to heal from childhood and adult traumas.

[@writingismagic5597]

I have so much ptsd from watching Dr. Sam’s videos. So horrified😢from hearing about all these awful psychological disorders & the havoc upon society at large. Lol

[@stevenday5448]

It’s the antidote and a hard pill to swallow.

[@SherriFlemming]

The antidote to suffering is choosing self love over fear and pain. ♥️ Therapy and personal development. Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant The Hoffman Process by John and Julie Gottman The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer The Body Keeps The Score Brain Mind And The Healing Of Trauma-Bessel Van Der Kolk Know yourself and your attachment style. Sam Vaknin PhD, Ken Reid clinician, and David Tian PhD have educational podcasts on attachment styles and other topics.

[@krishely5955]

Wow that was so very enlightening Thank you Professor Sam And your humorous introduction was priceless! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insights 🙏

[@amincident]

You are brilliant, ridiculously ahead of your time. The mainstream recognition of your perspectives would be invaluable in this world, where profoundly traumatic childhoods are, if not already, becoming the norm.

[@SherriFlemming]

They always have been the norm, generally. Everyone ticks boxes on the ACE exam. The antidote to suffering is choosing self love over fear and pain. ♥️ Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant Protecting The Gift by Gavin De Becker Toxic Parents by Susan Forward

[@arminunruh452]

great lecture! very interesting to hear about things that cover other subjects than narcissism

[@CampChoctawVacationGirl]

I never realized myself as "integrated", before THIS moment!😲 Things make sense "for once in my life", like the Stevie Wonder song lyrics!🥲Thanks to you, Dr. Vaknin! Ty!😔

[@zmijka001]

Love your humor 👍🏻

[@1RecluseBrown]

This sense of presentification is precisely what I experienced through EMDR therapy for PTSD.

[@debraparker6404]

Thank you so much! I understand now that I will probably never understand my sister. I mostly love her from afar.

[@bazza6534]

sir you have literally saved my sanity, possibly my life, and to suggest you're the antichrist because of not sharing a belief system is a sad state of affairs indeed

[@debraparker6404]

This is why I can only talk sometimes to my sister who is a borderline . Sometimes she makes sense to me. Other times she goes off the deep end. Most of the time she is very obviously unregulated. I feel sometimes I have lost her to mental illness.

[@w1cked001]

Amazing work Dr

[@PerfectPetProductions]

I had a narcissistic father. 4 children in our family. (He also left and had numerous others). Anyway in my family of 4 we have 1 schizophrenic, 1 narcissistic, and 2 ADHD. All of these are post traumatic illnesses.

[@BlackpilledSaihara]

Schizophrenic one is probably the most traumatized person?

[@cherylm5002]

​@@BlackpilledSaiharaThat's what I feel too, yet the medical narrative is it is genetic

[@BlackpilledSaihara]

@@cherylm5002 Probably epigenetic more so

[@Lore788]

The answer is no.😆 “I ‘m never bored or tired of the introduction.”🙏😊❤

[@KimLeveque]

You are so brilliant professional and attractive. I enjoy listening to your podcast. I love everything about psychology

[@barbaracale1015]

I have adhd combined type, and I love your long lectures and big words. 😆 but I also have asd1 so I think it balances out a bit.

[@jonspengler5891]

Brilliant

[@janettesessarago4690]

I love your humour 😊

[@Mountlougallops]

Being dropped in the mind of the mother.

[@ScoutMcGovern-vd1rx]

My respect Sam

[@debraparker6404]

Ahhhh now I get it. LOL took me long enough. Oh boy!

[@debraparker6404]

Ha ha! I have ADHD but you’re so interesting, this is my third watch of this video. LOL

[@COMRVNA]

Merci professeur! Have you ever shared on your channels, your inputs/views/theories about why some people believe in God, and some don't?! (I don't and I probably have a personnalité disorder...Borderline maybe?!)

[@debraparker6404]

Artist, musicians, writers maybe? More sensitive?

[@hyperflys]

#ME too

[@jasb26111]

If you’re the anti-christ we must be going through the tribulation. Oh no I missed the rapture. 😢 Joking aside perhaps “the judge” should read Matthew 7:5 since they’re being so biblical it’s about logs and specks in eyes.

[@MalgorzataKania-zc5zz]

Dear professor Let me drop this one ☝️ I love your jokes about prick 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 I have one too. Old narcissist seeing a doctor and have an objection about his number 2, and explain that every day his empty emotional himself (droop bomb) at 8am. Fantastic says the doctor continue like that… in your age it’s very impressive!!🎉 But Doc… Says the patient,I woke up every day at ninth 🫣 Also please explain why my daughter spits on every one !!