Practical Steps to Finding Healing from Trauma
The Brain’s SOS
Most of us have experienced something in our lives we consider traumatic. Perhaps it was something sudden and unexpected like a car wreck or perhaps it was the long process of watching a loved one die. Any lived experience that causes us an inordinate amount of fear and pain can leave us reeling for days, weeks, months and even years afterwards. Like the scarring after a physical wound, trauma can leave a mark on our brains, throwing our nervous systems into overdrive and forcing us to live in the sharpened memory of the terrible event.
Trauma manifests in various ways and impacts individuals differently, regardless of the trauma's severity. Thankfully researchers are gaining insights into the factors influencing how we cope with trauma, and are developing immediate pathways to healing that can be implemented soon after the traumatic event. Learning a way to cope well, is key. But what does that look like?
Giving Your Trauma a Name
Just as you’d go to a professional (doctor) to get care if your physical body was injured, trauma can also be tended to by a professional – usually a therapist.
There’s something empowering about calling your trauma what it is…trauma. By definition “trauma” means injury and if you’re still living in the shadow of a past event, you probably relate to the idea of injury in a profound way. In fact, you can probably take a few moments and jot down a list of all the ways you’ve been injured by what happened.
Maybe your sleep has been injured…you can’t seem to settle your mind and get the rest you need so badly.
Maybe your central nervous system has been injured…you startle easily and have experienced an uptick in anxiety or anxious behaviors.
Maybe your mental health has been injured…you come and go out of flashbacks that take you back to the moment of the trauma.
You may have become injured in more ways than one. But just as you’d go to a professional (doctor) to get care if your physical body was injured, trauma and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) can also be tended to by a professional – usually a therapist. There is no need to continue suffering when your life is being disrupted by trauma.
Finding Relief
Researchers believe there are biological changes that happen directly after traumatic events that can help or hinder how we cope in their aftermath. They’re looking at genetics, performing brain scans, and investigating trauma survivors’ past experiences, all while gathering data about vitals and sleep cycles. Figuring out who is more at risk for PTSD can help therapists and doctors prevent the extreme effects of the disorder while they guide victims through better ways to cope.
One thing the medical community knows for sure is that early, thorough therapeutic intervention is massively helpful. Talking to someone about your trauma soon after it happens will help you more affectively deal with it long term. Leaning on unhealthy coping strategies like alcohol, drugs, or any other form of addiction will only numb you temporarily and extend your suffering. Resist the urge of instant forgetfulness or temporary relief, and invest in your long term health with therapy. Every human is built with resilience inside of them – sometimes therapy can be just the right tool that can spark that resilience and lead us to healing and growth.
Put It Into Practice
How do you know when it’s time to seek professional help after a traumatic event? Ask yourself these questions:____
How long has it been since the trauma occurred? A few days after a terrifying event, it’s natural to still feel shaky. If it’s been a few months and you still feel on edge, you may need therapeutic help.
Is your past trauma affecting your relationships? When the effects of a traumatic event begins disrupting the people around you, it may have evolved into PTSD.
Are you having trouble at work because of your trauma? Everyone deserves to have quality of life in all facets. Seek counseling if it’s become too difficult to cope at work.
Other Interesting Reads about Healing from Trauma
Verified Reliable Sources for the Content in This Article:
Dealing with Trauma by Harrison Wein, Ph.D. via National Institutes of Health