Trauma as "Time Virus": A Deleuzian Approach to Treatment
How traumatic memories are "unbound by time"
The following are the beginning suppositions of a new therapy approach in which trauma is seen as “memories out of time” which invade and conquer the survivor’s identity. I fully intend on further developing this model in coming days, but at present want to share some fundamental concepts for reference.
Trauma, generally defined as a psychological harm caused by painful situations, has been studied via a variety of theoretical lenses in psychology and psychiatry. This particular essay investigates trauma via a Deleuzian lens, viewing it as an assemblage that interweaves different dimensions of time, space, and experience.
Trauma as Assembly
According to Deleuze and Guattari, an assemblage is a complex, dynamic network of disparate pieces that combine to produce a functional entity. Trauma, viewed through this perspective, is a multilayered construct including memories, emotions, bodily sensations, and environmental settings rather than a single event limited to a given point in time. These components interact and impact one another, resulting in a dynamic and growing experience.
The concept of assemblage enables us to recognize the diversity and connectivity of traumatic events. Trauma can be defined as a series of fragmented experiences and emotions that destabilize the individual's sense of self and reality. Deterritorialization, another Deleuzian notion, is the process of disrupting and reconfiguring established structures and borders (Deleuze & Guattari, 1987). In the setting of trauma, deterritorialization manifests as a collapse in the individual's coherent sense of time, location, and identity. Examples could include flashbacks and other reliving symptoms of trauma.
The Rhizomatic Nature of Trauma
The concept of the rhizome, developed by Deleuze and Guattari, sheds more light on trauma. A rhizome, as opposed to a tree, has a non-hierarchical, network-like structure with various entry and exit points (Deleuze & Guattari, 1987). Trauma, as a rhizomatic entity, defies linear narratives and categorical classifications. It expands across multiple dimensions of experience, resulting in unanticipated linkages and disturbances, often taking a person out of present time/function and into “trauma time” or the past. Traumatic memories are essentially “temporal incursions” where past intrudes upon present and threatens the future.
The rhizomatic aspect of trauma calls conventional therapy approaches into question, as they typically trace a linear path from the traumatic event to resolution. Instead, seeing traumatic memory as rhizomatic encourages us to view trauma as a collection of interconnected and dispersed events that cannot be fully encapsulated in a single narrative. This viewpoint is consistent with the lived experiences of many trauma survivors, who frequently characterize their trauma as pervasive and elusive, affecting various elements of their lives in complex ways, including not just flashbacks but disruptions in mood and even identity. We will cover these experiences more in an upcoming essay, but understanding the basic terms is our current goal.
EMDR as Deleuzian Model
Francine Shapiro created Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment, which uses bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements) to process traumatic memories (Shapiro, 2018). From a Deleuzian perspective, EMDR can be viewed as a reterritorialization process in which the trauma assemblage's shattered components are reintegrated into a more cohesive and adaptive form. In other words, the non-linear experience of an intrusive memory (such as a flashback) is reprocessed into its proper place as a past experience. The rhizome “web” of a trauma memory is reconsolidated as a single experience, much like uprooting a weed.
During EMDR, bilateral stimulation acts as a form of deterritorialization, altering the established patterns of traumatic memory and affect. This disturbance enables for the formation of new connections, making it easier to integrate previously fragmented experiences. The process is analogous to Deleuze's concept of becoming, in which entities evolve and reconfigure themselves in response to new interactions and influences (Deleuze & Guattari, 1987).
Furthermore, EMDR's emphasis on the present moment and bodily sensations is consistent with Deleuze's attention on immanence and affect. By grounding the individual in the present now, EMDR allows for a more fluid and dynamic interaction with traumatic memories, allowing new meanings and possibilities to emerge. This method differs from standard therapies, which frequently emphasize verbal articulation and cognitive restructuring, which may unintentionally strengthen the rigid and linear characteristics of traumatic tales, allowing them to extend their roots into other elements of the client’s identity.
Toward a Psychology of Trauma as “Temporal Incursion”
Viewing trauma through a Deleuzian perspective allows for a more nuanced understanding of its complexities and fluidity. We can build more effective and therapeutic approaches by viewing trauma as an assemblage, acknowledging its rhizomatic nature, and understanding the process of deterritorialization and reterritorialization. EMDR, a Deleuzian-informed technique, exhibits this approach by allowing for the dynamic integration of traumatic experiences via bilateral stimulation and present-moment awareness. Finally, a Deleuzian viewpoint challenges us to reconsider trauma not as a static pathology, but as a dynamic and changing process of transformation.
References
C. Caruth (1996). Unclaimed Experiences: Trauma, Narrative, and History. John Hopkins University Press.
Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari (1987). A Thousand Plateaus of Capitalism and Schizophrenia. University of Minnesota Press.
Herman, J.L. (1992). Trauma and Recovery: The Effects of Violence, From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. Basic books.
Shapiro F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Fundamental Concepts, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Press.
van der Kolk, B. A. 2015. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in Trauma Recovery. Viking.