St. John's NFLD How To Understand Horrible Things Day 2

Day 2: The How: The Body Under Siege — Survival, Sexuality, and the Hidden Adaptations of Trauma

If Day 1 answers “What happens in the brain and body?”

Day 2 asks: “What does that look like in real life—and how do we respond?”

This second day deepens the exploration into the lived, embodied realities of survivors of human trafficking and sexually exploitative, coercive relationships. Moving beyond theory, we examine how neurobiological adaptations show up in ways that are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or judged.

Participants will explore the complex interplay between survival states, sexuality, behaviour, and the body, with a focus on responses that can appear contradictory, confusing, or even confronting.