How To Begin Healing From Trauma
No one would ever have to go through a traumatic experience in a perfect world. However, that isn’t reality. Some people experience traumatic events very early in life through abuse or neglect. Others enter into abusive relationships or even experience trauma through unforeseen circumstances.
The lingering effects of trauma can start to take hold of every aspect of your life. It can cause you to feel fatigued, and anxious, and make it difficult to concentrate. Those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can experience flashbacks and painful memories that make the trauma feel “new” again.
Thankfully, you don’t have to live with trauma symptoms forever. If you’re ready and willing to take the next step forward, there are things you can do to begin healing.
Acknowledge and Accept What Happened
One of the biggest obstacles trauma survivors often face is actually thinking about what happened. While flashbacks can occur and make things difficult to forget, that’s not the same as actually acknowledging what you went through.
Other survivors will try to block out the experience completely, especially if it happened in childhood.
That can work as a coping mechanism for a while, but it’s not sustainable. Being able to acknowledge the event(s) that caused your trauma is the first step toward true healing.
Don’t Do It Alone
Acknowledging what happened to you won’t be easy, no matter how long ago it occurred. Having a support system to help you through the healing process isn’t just important — it’s essential.
Lean into your family and friends. Being able to surround yourself with people who make you feel safe can make it easier to work through your trauma. Don’t be afraid to accept help. These people love you and want to do whatever it takes to help you find peace.
It can even be helpful to join support groups, in person or online, with other trauma survivors. Sometimes, hearing what others have gone through and how they are working through it or how they overcame it can make a big difference.
Practice Self-Care
Trauma survivors can struggle with symptoms of anxiety or depression. They can also experience guilt and/or shame over what happened, even if they didn’t cause it.
Unfortunately, those thoughts and feelings can make you feel like you don’t deserve to “feel good.” You might avoid self-care, or you might simply lack the motivation to make it a priority.
But, self-care can be a huge help throughout the healing process. It doesn’t need to be anything extravagant or “luxurious”. Rather, focus on small things you can include in your daily routine that will help to reduce stress and boost your mood.
Things like prioritizing sleep, exercising, eating well, and practicing mindfulness or meditation can all be very helpful. Find what works for you and your routine, and it will be easier to make self-care a priority every day.
Get the Help You Deserve
No matter how long ago you experienced trauma, it’s never too late to start the healing process. While leaning on the people in your life is important and helpful, talking to a professional is often the best way to work through your healing journey in effective and healthy ways.
It’s not uncommon for trauma survivors to avoid therapy because they don’t want to relive what they’ve been through. However, as stated above, acknowledging your trauma is the first step toward healing, and when you work with a professional, you can take comfort in knowing you don’t have to go through the experience on your own.
If you’re struggling with the effects of trauma, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to answer questions, provide information, or help you set up an appointment for trauma therapy.