Healing from trauma

When healing from trauma, taking responsibility for oneself is an essential component of the recovery process. It involves recognising our own feelings and behaviours, and actively working towards making positive changes in our lives. We often overlook trauma recovery or trauma healing, as in the past it was deemed unnecessary or a weakness to take time to recover. Much like how grief is viewed in the western world. For some reason we hold a unseen time limit that we unconsciously comply to  even sometimes saying to others “I should be over this by now” 

Yet all takes its time to process and if not processed in a healthy way can sit in the body for years. becoming  trapped within itself and eventually affecting the health of the mind and body. It can take hold is many ways such as addiction, self harm, self sabotage, dissociation, PTSD and triggers that cause reactions that are out of sync to the personality, and even illness. 

Many people carry childhood trauma long into their as adult self, having witnessed things no child should see, yet unable to react appropriately, it became a hidden and internal response that holds their building blocks of understanding and awareness. Emotions and reactions tied innately to the trauma yet taken as a part of them self. 

Understanding trauma and the trauma each has experienced is a vital key to processing it, in the past talking therapies were a key factor in peeling back the layers. Even our understanding of trauma is shifting. For most trauma was a thing only experienced in severe circumstances, such as war, armed forces, disasters, conflict, major incidences and major accidents. For a long time it has been felt that you only experience trauma if the weight of it is heavy enough. 

Yet the truth is trauma is born form anything that is experienced in a negative aspect and is more than one can rationally process, getting lost in a crowd, parents divorcing, illness, going through life’s changes, pregnancy, children leaving home, the loss of pets, domestic violence, vicarious trauma is experienced via witnessing another going through something atrocious, feeling unsafe, and the list goes on and on. For anything that pushes you out of the safe space of the self can be traumatic and take you out of balance.  

We can help the  self during times of trauma no matter of its shape or size, and the first important aspect is to stop measuring it against that of others , your trauma is valid no matter what it looks like, if you’re unable to process it and it becomes stuck within your body or mind then it’s important to find ways to help yourself recover from it. 

Seeking professional help is always important, to gain support as you navigate your way through: Healing from trauma can be a challenging journey, and seeking the help of a professional therapist or counsellor is a crucial starting point. They can help you identify and understand how your trauma has affected you and provide tools and strategies to help you navigate the recovery process. Somatic practices such as Breathwork to validate the body and give breathing techniques to calm and balance the nervous system are an important initial first step. Followed with therapies such as EFT tapping to help identify the emotions and where they may be stuck within and processing it with a therapist to help identify it and release it from the body. 

Practice Self-Compassion, you have been though something that to you is awful and traumatic : The trauma you have experienced may have left you feeling guilty, ashamed, or self-blaming. Practicing self-compassion can help you to show yourself kindness and empathy, rather than negative self-talk. Self-compassion can help you acknowledge your feelings without judgment and allow you to move forward with self-care and healing.accept you are in recovery, (often a word saved for addiction, illness or after operations) yet we need time to recover from trauma and that in itself can be years. 

Identify your triggers, learning what exacerbates your responses and initially removing yourself from anything that triggers a response: Trauma can leave us with certain triggers that bring up negative emotions and intrusive memories. Identifying these triggers can help you be proactive in avoiding them, or knowing how to manage them when they arise. Clinical Hypnotherapy can be a vital tool here as it gently takes you into the subconscious self with deep relaxation which can help to identify the cause and give you vital support to explore the triggers and help with the emotional attachment to the trigger itself . 

Setting healthy boundaries is a core aspect to help you as you recover, making sure you are able to maintain them, so small to begin with and expanding as your recovery takes hold: Setting healthy boundaries is vital in taking responsibility for yourself as it helps you protect your mental, emotional and physical well-being. Setting boundaries can involve saying no to activities or situations that make you uncomfortable and choosing who you want to spend your time with. It may look like a duvet day from time to time, a long lay in, only doing things that are comfortable and not pushing you out of that comfort zone, it could even be withdrawing and not socialising for a time, or having a period off work whilst you recover. 

Practice Self-Care this is a vital step and a good therapist practitioner can help provide you with supportive tools for you to engage with: Prioritising self-care activities such as exercise, mindfulness, journaling, and other healthy habits can help create a healthier and positive mental and emotional state. Practicing self-care activities can also help you to be proactive about taking responsibility for your own well-being.

Lastly be patient: Healing from trauma is a process that takes time, patience, and perseverance. Acknowledge that healing will not happen overnight, and that progress can take time to be visible. It is important to celebrate even the smallest wins and practice self-compassion along the way. No two people’s recovery takes the same time or even looks the same, each has a differing process of how they perceived the initial trauma, how it affects them, how it’s been stored or trapped within the mind or physical. So give yourself as long as you need, it could be weeks, months or years but it vital to allow the time to recover fully, to live the life you deserve and importantly become a person you are happy to live within. 

Taking responsibility for oneself whilst healing from trauma can involve seeking professional help, practicing self-compassion, identifying triggers, setting healthy boundaries, practicing self-care and being patient. By taking proactive steps towards self-care and mental well-being, one can effectively manage the aftermath of trauma and restore the capacity to live life more confidently and authentically. Don’t you deserve to?  Giving yourself the same compassion you would show another? It’s time for you to give yourself all you need to heal and release from the trauma you have held within, maybe for a long time or maybe recent, either way, find your way of recovering and freeing yourself from traumas demands. 

If you feel you would like support, and you feel therapy may be the answer. I offer 15 minute free insight calls, for you to have the chance to discover how therapy might support you. Visit my website for more information. 

www.mindfulmomentstherapies.co.uk

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phiona.hutton@btinternet.com

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