A Simple Guide: 5 Steps to Begin Healing from Trauma
Where Do I Go From Here?
Traumatic experiences are, by nature, disorienting. Whether you have endured the loss of a loved one, survived an assault or escaped an abusive relationship, lived through a natural disaster, faced extreme financial instability, or something else, traumatic experiences can make it feel impossible to find your bearings.
The effects of trauma don’t help. Some fall into a season of depression after experiencing trauma. For others, trauma manifests itself as chronic anxiety, or substance abuse, or social withdrawal, or workaholism. No matter what you have experienced, or how it’s affecting you now, we’re here to tell you that there is hope for healing ahead. Here are five steps to get you going on your journey towards thriving after trauma.
Acknowledge Your Need
As obvious as it seems, a simple acknowledgement of one’s need for healing is essential to experiencing it. Like with physical wounds, we can’t get the healing we need if we don’t think we need it. Have you ever experienced a broken bone, an ankle sprain, or a torn Achilles Tendon? Wasn’t your healing kickstarted by acknowledging that you were hurt and needed to heal?
Tell Your Story
A bit different from physical wounds, emotional wounds must be brought into the light of day through honest storytelling if they are to heal. Start by telling your story to yourself. It might help to imagine how you might feel if a friend endured what you did and was courageous enough to share it with you. Journaling is another useful tool. Set aside some time to get alone and write out your story. You may be surprised how this helps you empathize with yourself in your pain—rather than blaming yourself, beating yourself up, or denying your wounds. If you are religious, prayer is another way to “tell your story” in a safe, personal, and healing context.
Establish Your Support System
Once you’ve told your story to yourself, it’s time to invite a trusted loved one or licensed therapist in. None of us can heal alone. Just like you needed doctors and sling-manufacturers to help you heal from a broken arm, so you need a support system to help you heal from emotional wounds. Who are 2-3 people in your life that will listen compassionately? Who will champion you to keep going when you want to give up? Who will get in the trenches and fight for you when your strength fails? Don’t miss out on the power of a support system.
Care for Your Body and Mind
Healing from trauma is worth it, but it’s hard. Caring well for yourself throughout the process makes a big difference. From eating well to promote your mental health, to regularly journaling your feelings, to getting good sleep, enjoying quality time with friends, and pursuing life-giving hobbies, keeping your mind and body rested and energized is essential to thriving after trauma.
Let your Healing Be Yours, and Let It Be Slow
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: everyone’s story is different, everyone’s trauma is different, and trauma affects everyone differently. Fight the temptation to compare yourself and your healing journey to others. Fight the temptation to rush your healing. Instead, rely on your support system to keep you grounded and encouraged when you’re feeling insecure or ready to throw in the towel.
Even if you’re not yet where you want to be, there are treasures to be found in darkness, too. Until then, rest assured that one day the journey will be worth it, and you’ll be grateful for everything you gained along the way.
Luke Lewallen, Mental Health Counselor