At Chefalo Consulting, we dedicate our lives to the pursuit of trauma-informed systems change. And, understanding why people don't like change (even when that change is good for us) is an essential piece of why our approach works. Because the first step to overcoming a barrier is understanding it.
Change is a fundamental part of life, yet it’s something many of us struggle with deeply. Whether it’s a shift in personal circumstances, workplace dynamics, or societal expectations, change is often met with resistance, anxiety, and fear. For those working with trauma-informed approaches (TIAs), understanding why this resistance occurs is essential. At the core of this understanding is NEAR Sciences—a critical pillar of TIA work.
What Are NEAR Sciences?
NEAR Sciences stands for Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Resilience. These interconnected fields of study provide a comprehensive understanding of how trauma affects the brain and body, and how resilience can be built through supportive environments and practices. By grounding our work in NEAR Sciences, we gain valuable insights into the biological and psychological processes that influence behavior - particularly in response to change.
If you like this, you might also like ACEs: Everything You Need to Know About Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Barriers to Change: The Neuroscience of What Keeps Us Stuck
From an evolutionary standpoint, the brain is wired for survival. One of the key ways it ensures our survival is by favoring stability and predictability over uncertainty and change. This preference is deeply embedded in our brain’s processes and plays a significant role in how we respond to new or unfamiliar situations.
The Brain is Comfortable with Familiarity
The brain is designed to recognize patterns and create routines. When we engage in familiar activities or encounter familiar situations, the brain’s reward system releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and satisfaction. This reinforces our desire to repeat those behaviors, creating a sense of comfort and security.
However, when faced with change—whether it’s a new job, a shift in responsibilities, or even a different way of thinking—the brain doesn’t receive the same dopamine boost. Instead, it may activate the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for processing fear and anxiety. This can lead to feelings of discomfort and unease, as the brain perceives change as a potential threat to our well-being.
The Fear of the Unknown Activates our "Trauma Brain"
Change often involves stepping into the unknown, and the brain is notoriously wary of uncertainty. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and problem-solving, can become overwhelmed when faced with too many unknowns. This can lead to analysis paralysis, where the brain struggles to make decisions or take action, further heightening feelings of anxiety and fear.
For individuals with a history of trauma, this fear can be even more pronounced. Trauma can alter the brain’s stress response system, making it more sensitive to perceived threats. As a result, the prospect of change can trigger a heightened state of arousal, leading to a fight, flight, or freeze response.
Change Feels like a Threat to Our Safety
The brain’s primary function is to keep us safe and alive. If the brain thinks we are in danger, it will override all other functions and do whatever it needs to in order to follow its primary objective: stay alive.
When faced with change, especially if that change is sudden or significant, the brain may interpret it as a threat to our safety and stability. This is why change can feel so uncomfortable. The body’s stress response is activated, releasing cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare us to either confront the change or avoid it altogether.
In a trauma-informed context, it’s essential to recognize that what may seem like a minor change to one person can feel overwhelming and unsafe to another, particularly if they have a history of trauma. Understanding this helps us approach change with greater empathy and awareness.
How to Navigate Change with Compassion and Resilience
Given the brain’s natural resistance to change, it’s crucial that we approach change within organizations and communities with compassion and care. This involves acknowledging the discomfort and fear that can accompany change and providing the support needed to navigate it successfully.
Create Safe Spaces for Change
One of the most effective ways to support individuals through change is by creating environments where they feel safe and supported. This means establishing clear communication, offering reassurance, and providing opportunities for people to voice their concerns and fears. In a trauma-informed approach, safety is paramount, and this extends to how we manage and implement change.
Build Resilience Through Gradual Change
Rather than forcing sudden or drastic changes, it’s often more effective to introduce change gradually. This allows the brain to adapt at a manageable pace, reducing the sense of threat and increasing the likelihood of successful adaptation. By breaking down larger changes into smaller, more achievable steps, we can help build resilience and reduce resistance.
Empower Individuals to Take Ownership of Change
When people feel they have a say in how change is implemented, they are more likely to embrace it. Empowering individuals to take ownership of change involves actively involving them in the decision-making process, seeking their input, and respecting their perspectives. This not only reduces resistance but also fosters a sense of agency and control, which is crucial for building resilience.
Reframe Change as Growth
One powerful way to reduce resistance to change is to reframe it as an opportunity for growth rather than a disruption. By helping individuals see how change can lead to new possibilities, learning, and personal or professional development, we can shift the narrative from fear to excitement. This perspective can help reduce the brain’s fear response and encourage a more open and adaptive mindset.
Final Thoughts: Embracing Change in Trauma-Informed Approaches
Understanding the brain-based barriers to change is essential in trauma-informed work. By recognizing that the brain naturally resists change due to its wiring for survival, we can approach change with greater empathy and awareness. NEAR Sciences provides us with the tools to understand these responses and to navigate change in a way that honors the brain’s need for safety and stability.
In trauma-informed approaches, our goal is not to force change but to facilitate it in a way that feels safe, supportive, and empowering. By creating environments that foster resilience, offering gradual and manageable changes, and empowering individuals to take ownership of the process, we can help overcome the brain’s resistance to change and create lasting, positive transformation.
To learn more about the neuroscience of trauma-informed change, make sure you check out "Trauma Brain Explained: The Neuroscience of Trauma."
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