Mental Health- Trauma to Recovery

Trauma to Recovery: The Road to Emotional Freedom

By Barbara Evans, EdD, LCPC

www.Barbeface2face.com

Many people go for years living with the symptoms of emotional and psychological trauma. The effects of untreated psychological trauma can be devastating and infiltrate nearly every aspect of an individual’s life.

Emotional and psychological trauma is defined as the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless in a dangerous world. Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and isolated can result in trauma, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm. It’s not the objective circumstances that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized.

Some of the most common effects of untreated trauma include:

• Substance Abuse/Alcoholism

• Obesity/Eating Disorders

• Hostility/Argumentativeness

• Uncontrollable reactive thoughts

• Social Withdrawal

• Sexual Problems

• Feelings of shame, depression, helplessness or despair

• Feeling as though one is permanently damaged

Working through trauma can be scary, painful, and potentially re-traumatizing. Everyone needs and wants to be seen, heard, and understood.

However, traumatic events can leave a person feeling numb, distressed, and disconnected. Like they want to be invisible or to go unnoticed. This may feel safer, but it is not good for our wellbeing. An important part of healing is to repair this sense of separateness with ourselves and from others. The relationship we have with ourselves is just as crucial to healing as our ties to the people around us.

Here are 5 Steps to Begin to Heal from Emotional Trauma

1. Be Willing to Heal. The desire to feel better can be your best ally on the road to recovery. The reactions you experience because of trauma are only responses- they are not who you are.

2. Accept Support From Loved Ones. It is important to connect with others regularly and avoid isolating yourself. Surrounding yourself with those who support, love, and respect, you will be invaluable on your path to healing.

3. Seek The Assistance of Trained Professionals. You may wish to attend individual or group therapy, or seek out and receive the help of someone trained in the field of emotional trauma.

4. Practice Meditation and Mindfulness. Meditation helps quiet the chatter of the mind, to allow you to experience wisdom, acceptance, and a new appreciation for life.

5. Incorporate Movement Into Your Daily Routine. Yoga and other forms of physical activity release endorphins and make you feel safe and stable. It’s vital to ensure you regularly engage in physical activity to help create positive feelings which have been torn down from emotional trauma.

Yes, sometimes the process of healing may be very difficult, but I encourage you to be consistent in your efforts towards self- love, wellness, and faith. In time, your heart will heal, and you will be on your way to experiencing new levels of joy and appreciation for life.

References Chopra Treatment for Alcoholics Emotional & Psychological Trauma. Healing from Trauma & Moving On. Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., 2018 Symptoms, Signs, & Effects of Psychological Trauma. Cascade Behavioral Health. Taking Care of Your Spiritual Self. Manitoba Trauma Information & Education Centre, 2013.