Is it Possible To Heal Trauma?

Trauma is usually created by stressful events in your life, making you upset about it far after the events have ended. Thinking about it or experiencing anything that's reminding of that traumatic event can trigger an emotional response that affects your life negatively. 



What is Trauma?

A traumatic event is usually related to danger, direct or not. If your usual ways of coping are overwhelmed, you can't deal with the situation and the associated emotions and end up traumatized.

If you've experienced trauma, that doesn't mean you're weak, everyone has their own vulnerabilities, someone can go through the same event that traumatized you but be able to cope with it easily, that doesn't mean they're better, it's just that that particular event was not as damaging to them as it was to you.



In the same way, you could go through an event that traumatized someone else but get out of that situation unfazed, because you had the mental tools to cope with that more easily.

How Can Trauma Affect My Life?

As far as how trauma affects your life, it can cause the feelings associated with the trauma to come back every time you're reminded of that experience. That by itself already causes great suffering, but it can also prevent you from living good experiences because they somehow remind you of your trauma.

That creates a negative loop, where each time a situation makes you feel upset, you avoid it, and the negative emotions go away. The fact that the pain goes away after you avoid a challenging situation rewards your avoiding behavior. With that, you have an ever-growing tendency to avoid uncomfortable situations and live a progressively more limited life.



This tendency can make you pull away from people, be socially isolated, be incapable of getting out of your comfort zone or reaching your goals due to fear, and so on.

Trauma can be the "seed" of negative behaviors that create a jail cell around you. By trying to avoid the suffering your trauma causes you, you end up hiding deeper and deeper into your shell. That's why we can't let trauma dictate our lives. 

Is it Possible to Cope with Trauma?

The good news is that there are reliable ways to cope with trauma. Here are some methods that may help you:

1.  Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. Talking about your experience can help you process and manage your emotions.

2.  Practice self-care. This includes getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly.

3.  Try relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. These practices can help reduce stress and promote emotional well-being.

4.  Challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that may be contributing to your trauma. Instead, focus on positive, affirming beliefs that help you move forward.

5.  Consider seeking professional help. Therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have been shown to be effective in treating trauma.

In conclusion, trauma can have a significant impact on your life, but it's important to remember that you're not alone, and there are ways to cope with it. Seeking support, practicing self-care, trying relaxation techniques, challenging negative thoughts, and seeking professional help are all effective methods for managing trauma. By taking steps to manage your trauma, you can free yourself from the limitations it may be placing on your life.