Taking back the power from your Trauma
it's time to say 'Enough is Enough'
Experiencing a devastating event is never a thing of joy. Any event that hurts emotionally, mentally, or physically can be traumatic and lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These events could be the death of a loved one, an accident, a toxic relationship, abuse, heartbreak, or natural disasters.
Anything that tortures your emotional and mental well-being can be traumatic. The event itself is not the trauma but your body and mind’s reaction to that experience. The frequent anxiety, shock, or triggers from memories of those events are so intense that without intentional steps to recovery, it will be difficult to live a peaceful life.
Nobody wants that, and you can let that traumatic event control your life for so long or face it head-on and take back your life from it. Trauma affects people in different ways, but one common thing is that you can take back control. Yes, it is not an easy journey, but you can.
The first thing about taking your life back from whatever traumatic event you’re dealing with is accepting support. I’m not talking about giving yourself to someone else or a group of people because it’s not that easy, but I mean giving yourself the room to breathe free from that trauma. Your first point of support can be picking yourself up and leaving that environment or person that scarred you.
With trauma, external support can be tricky, as with other mental health issues. Opening yourself and letting others in to help can take some time, so be patient with yourself and take your time. Childhood trauma can cause severe and long-lasting effects. When childhood trauma is unresolved, a sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for further trauma, anxiety, depression, or worse.
Whether your trauma is from a childhood event or in adulthood, from an accident, abuse, or death, everyone reacts differently. There is no right or wrong way to think, feel, or respond, so don’t judge yourself or be too hard on yourself for not healing as fast as you would like. Your responses are normal reactions to abnormal events in your life.
You are not alone. I understand you need to fight your battles alone, but as with every war, you need allies. Finding someone or a small group with similar traumatic experiences is a great way to find strength and regain control over your life.
When you find people who understand how you feel and what it feels like to be a survivor, you open yourself to additional motivation to progress in your recovery.
Connecting with people does not mean you have to talk about your trauma. Sometimes it can be triggering. The idea is to avoid isolation. Sitting with your thought alone for too long can be helpful but also draining. It can push you down the rabbit hole and worsen your mental health. Find and connect with a small group that positively impacts your recovery process. Slow and steady, you’ll get there.
Another evidence-based way of recovering from trauma is volunteering. Once you decide to overcome your trauma, helping others is an effective way to regain your sense of power and shun helplessness.
Taking back control of your life after a traumatic event takes time. Even with the above practices, you may need professional therapy. It is okay to heal at your pace. If symptoms persist, seek professional help and be patient with your recovery.
Every form of recovery requires communication and trust to thrive. When you find a therapist, I recommend asking yourself these questions;
Do you feel comfortable discussing your problems with the therapist?
Do you feel the therapist understands your experience?
Are your concerns taken seriously, or are they minimized or dismissed?
Are you treated with compassion and respect?
Do you believe that you could grow to trust the therapist?
It is necessary to have a safe and trustworthy connection with your therapist but remember to set and respect boundaries. Your therapist is not your savior but your helping hand in recovery.
Recovery is not a sprint but a marathon. Be patient with yourself and trust the process. You can have your life back no matter the extent of trauma you have experienced. I promise you. You are stronger than you think, trust yourself and never blame yourself for your trauma. It is not your fault that life sucks.
Join the rest of The Real Talk community on Twitter as we discuss more on recovering from trauma and positive mental health.
Feel free to share a tip to support Real Talk. - (Donate here)
Agreeing with Siri. It’s incredibly open of you to acknowledge your trauma and at the same time offer help to others. This topic is a very deep one.
You are awesome at normalizing stigmatized emotions.
The vulnerability to admit it to ourselves is hard enough - but you are writing about it in public 👀🙏💙