I find these words by Stephen Porges to be very wise and real:
“Trauma compromises our ability to engage with others by replacing patterns of connection with patterns of protection.”
When a person or community has experienced trauma, recent or long ago, the instincts for protection are valid.
-And-
This is one of the reasons that human connections are important in the healing of trauma. They restore something diminished. And they protect too.
Smuggling Grace 