In our culture, we use the word “trauma” in many different ways. We can describe lots of things as traumatic, but today I want to talk about “Capital T Trauma.” When I talk about Trauma, I’m talking about dangerous, potentially life-threatening situations such as accidents or abuse which can shake us to our very core. And if you’re struggling to carry on after enduring a Trauma, there are three things I really want you to know:

1.     1. Feeling “off” is completely normal

So many of the clients I’ve worked with have said something like: “This just isn’t like me to be shaken up by this; I’m tough and I usually push through things like this.” In these situations, I love the determination and toughness my clients have, because that clearly has made them the man or woman they are today. However, significant traumas affect us differently than other hard situations, and we aren’t designed to just endure them without being affected at all. There is no need to shame ourselves for being affected by traumatic events. This is actually a sign that your body and brain are working how they should, because you want to move forward in your life, and the thought of that being taken away from you is scary. So, let that shame go, accept that as a human being with a physical body you’re going to be affected by dangerous things, and know that this is just a sign of how much you value your life and your future.

2.     2. Your brain and body both need healing

After enduring something dangerous and threatening, your brain is going to feel anxious and worried about another dangerous situation. This is part of your brain’s job: To keep you alive. So, there is a part of your brain that contains your survival instinct, it’s the part of your brain that is wary of heights and snakes, and this part of your brain is so incredibly helpful for helping you recognize danger and keep you safe. However, when this part of your brain is extra-sensitive, it can overestimate how dangerous the world is, which makes you anxious about nearly anything. So, part of working through trauma is helping this side of your brain to slow down a little bit and help it return to its useful role in your life.

And, the pain you’re going through has also probably affected your body, not just your brain. If you feel tense all the time, unable to sleep normally, or tired most of the day, then you’ll know what I’m talking about. So, the healing that you need will also include releasing the tension from your body that you’ve been carrying since the traumatic incident. Progressive muscle relaxation, exercise, massages, and controlled breathing exercises are all helpful ways to help you body heal from trauma.                                                            

3.     3. It won’t be this way forever

When we undergo a trauma and aren’t feeling like ourselves afterwards, it can be hard to believe that we’re ever going to be past this. But I promise you, it won’t always be this hard. There is no virus in your bloodstream, your DNA hasn’t been permanently changed, and although it doesn’t feel like it, you have the same body that you did before your trauma. So although you will need professional and intentional support to heal, this does not define your future forever. Even if you have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or another similar diagnosis, those aren’t permanent diagnoses, and I encourage you to check my related blog post on that topic.

I know that it can be hard to believe some of the things I’m writing here, because they don’t feel true right now. But, if you’re taking steps to heal from your trauma, then I have every hope that you will thrive in your future and not just survive. Whatever the next step is for you in your journey, I encourage you to take it today, because you are worth it.

Thank you for reading my practice’s blog, my library of all the random thoughts that would make a terrible book but make a halfway-decent blog. To request a session or contact me, head to my Scheduling page to get in touch with me today!