Traumatic events – from abuse and assault to bad break ups, family dysfunction and even sickness or accidents – can have a lasting impact on your mental health. But there are tools and techniques that can help you process the trauma and move towards healing.
- Stay present-focused rather than dwelling on the past.
- Regulate your breathing and gain a sense of control over your body.
- Develop the ability to observe thoughts non-judgmentally.
- Practice self-compassion and reclaim a sense of wholeness.
Journaling
Writing about your thoughts and feelings connected to the trauma can:
- Help organize your sometimes chaotic thoughts and emotions.
- Provide an outlet for difficult feelings when you’re not ready or able to share them with others.
- Give you insights into patterns that hold you back from healing.
- Track your progress over time as you slowly integrate the trauma into your life story.
Practice self-care: Taking good care of your basic needs like eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and avoiding substance abuse can give you the strength and resilience to face the trauma.
Brain entrainment programs that are outstanding for positively transforming your subconscious mind and how you think, and see the world!
Connect with others: Social support can help buffer the negative effects of trauma. Having people you can open up to and lean on can aid in your recovery process.
Set boundaries: Be clear about what helps you versus what re-triggers difficult emotions. Set limits with people and situations that cause distress. Knowing and enforcing your boundaries is empowering.
Focus on the present: Instead of ruminating on the past trauma, practice mindfulness and stay grounded in the here and now. Deal with one day at a time. The present moment is where healing occurs.
Find meaning: Try to see how the trauma has shaped you into who you are today. Seek to help others who are going through similar experiences. Finding purpose in your pain can aid in post-traumatic growth.
Be patient with yourself: Healing from trauma is a non-linear process. You’ll have setbacks alongside progress. Be gentle and give yourself time. Every person heals at their own pace.
Remember you’re not alone: Many people have experienced trauma and found healing. Draw inspiration and hope from their stories. And know that better days do lie ahead, even if it’s hard to see now.
Keep practicing the tools that help: Brain entrainment, affirmations, meditation, journaling – whatever works for you. Consistently implementing these strategies over time will slowly chip away at the effects of trauma.
Above all, have compassion for yourself. You’ve survived things that would break others. The fact that you’re seeking healing shows your incredible strength and resilience. Focus on moving forward, one small step at a time. You’ve got this.
Janet Lamar
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