How to Recover from Emotional Trauma
It's common to experience at least one traumatic event throughout somebody's lifetime. This trauma can be due to any number of reasons, including but not limited to:
Abuse of any kind
Witnessing or being the victim of a crime
Loss of a loved one
Living through a natural disaster or major event
If this list seems really broad, that is for good reason. Trauma is an emotional response to a highly distressing situation. So, if there is anything that is considered highly distressing to an individual person, they could develop symptoms of PTSD.
Keep in mind that not every person will experience PTSD or trauma in the same way. But, for those who do develop PTSD symptoms, it can be hard to find a way to not only cope with the symptoms but to heal as well.
How to Heal From Emotional Trauma
Acknowledge It
First, you can't begin to heal from anything if you don't acknowledge it. It takes work to face your past head-on. When something causes great emotional distress, it can sometimes feel easier to avoid it altogether. It would be nice if life worked like that, but unfortunately, avoiding something doesn't make it go away.
Acknowledging your trauma does not mean that you have to play the victim, and it doesn't mean you have to downplay its effects. Instead, healing is about acknowledging that you went through something traumatic and then finding ways to move past it so that the trauma no longer impacts you as much.
Stress Management Techniques
Your thoughts and memories aren't the only part of your life that impacts your quality of life after a traumatic experience. The very real physical symptoms can as well. Symptoms such as insomnia, racing heart, and triggers from certain sensations can have a profound impact on your daily life.
Doing small things to reduce the challenging symptoms that accompany trauma can help your healing process. Each person will respond differently to various techniques. So it's important not to become discouraged if something you try isn't immediately effective.
Breathing Techniques — When anxiety and stress ramp up, they impact your nervous system. As the nervous system goes into a state of hypervigilance, your breathing will often become shallower and more rapid. To counteract this, deep breathing techniques can help you calm down.
Journal — In the aftermath of trauma, your thoughts often run rampant. Which, in turn, sends your body into that state of hyperarousal. To combat this, try to channel your thoughts onto a piece of paper. Journaling is a proven and effective way to help clear your mind, which lessens the impact of PTSD.
Go Easy On Yourself
Unfortunately, many people who have experienced trauma will often blame themselves. They grapple with many what-if questions, wondering what they could have done to prevent something from happening.
While there may be truth to that, you should keep in mind one thing — no matter what, it wasn't your fault. Although it may be hard not to, trauma survivors should never blame themselves for their trauma. As we said earlier, you don't have to see yourself as a victim. Instead, not placing blame on yourself gives you the grace and understanding to begin moving forward in spite of your hardships.
Counseling
Trauma is complex, and how it impacts the body and mind is as well. If you feel stuck after experiencing trauma, you don't have to suffer alone. While unfolding the past is hard, therapy can provide a safe and supportive space for you to talk about it. Reach out to learn more about trauma therapy and how our practice can help.
