Trauma is not what happens to you. Trauma is what happens inside of you, as a result of what happened to you.

Gabor Mate

Is math anxiety really a form of trauma? Yes, indeed. It’s not shock trauma, which is the result of a sudden, overwhelming event: a car accident, a serious illness, etc. Math anxiety is more of a developmental trauma that accumulates over a period of time as a result of a number of incidents that involve shame or embarrassment around math. If the events are perceived as threatening (a threat to our relationship to a parent, sibling, teacher, or peers in a classroom; or an ego threat, such as a threat to our self-esteem or self-image), and the somatic activation (body reaction) caused by that threat cannot be properly discharged, the nervous system is overwhelmed, and the symptoms of trauma develop. If this occurs, an over-coupling can develop between math and fear (fear of loss of connection, or fear of ego damage). That fear activates the lower brain centers (the “reptile” brain and limbic system), which makes it extremely difficult to access the higher cognitive functions of the cerebral cortex that are necessary for mathematical reasoning.

From “Healing Trauma”, by Peter A. Levine, PhD (the creator of the Somatic Experiencing trauma-resolution technique):

…we become traumatized when our ability to respond to a perceived threat is in some way overwhelmed. This inability to adequately respond can impact us in obvious ways, as well as ways that are subtle…

In short, trauma is about loss of connection–to ourselves, to our bodies, to our families, to others, and to the world around us. This loss of connection is often hard to recognize, because it doesn’t happen all at once. It can happen slowly, over time, and we adapt to these subtle changes sometimes without even noticing them. These are the hidden effects of trauma, the ones most of use keep to ourselves. We may simply sense that we do not feel quite right, without ever becoming fully aware of what is taking place; that is, the gradual undermining of our self-esteem, self-confidence, feelings of well-being, and connection to life.

Our choices become limited as we avoid certain feelings, people, situations, and places. The result of this gradual constriction of freedom is the loss of vitality and potential for the fulfillment of our dreams.

Healing Trauma, p9

This is an accurate description of the progression of math anxiety: “the gradual undermining of our self-esteem, self-confidence…the loss of…potential for the fulfillment of our dreams”

The most effective way to treat math anxiety is to directly address the trauma that is the underlying cause.