Tips For Recovering From Trauma

Recovering from the trauma of any sort – be that emotional or physical – is a long road. It can be difficult and lonely, but that doesn’t mean you can’t heal and survive. If you feel overwhelmed by the path ahead of you. 

Start talking

Traumas of any kind can cause huge emotional destabilization, and so to mitigate the risk of this impacting your life even more than the event itself, it’s time to start talking. You can share your feelings, experiences, and thoughts with a friend or a loved one, or just someone you trust. Equally, some people find it easier to speak to someone they don’t know – and thanks to online therapy, it’s easier than ever. Ensuring you aren’t isolated and you are receiving some support is an important part of your healing journey. 

Get moving 

An effective way of handling trauma is to move your body. Studies have shown that it can help reduce stress and promote emotional healing after a trauma. If you’re well and able, gentle movement is great for the body and soul. It doesn’t have to be exhausting – simply going for a daily walk or heading to the local pool for a swim. If you find the idea of getting out too much for you right now, you could relax with some calming yoga on YouTube.

Foster good habits 

It can be easy to sink into bad habits when you’re recovering from trauma – that could be not leaving the house, sleeping all day, drinking too much, or not eating well. While these can be understandable reactions to something that has happened, they will not help your recovery. If you feel able, try and build more positive habits in your day. These habits will depend on you and your needs, but they could be to wake up at the same time every morning, shower once a day, and get outside for at least five minutes of fresh air. Whatever these habits are, keep them up and praise yourself when you stick to them. 

Self-care 

Self-care is an incredibly personal thing, so it’s important to consider what constitutes self-care for you. Do you enjoy a candlelit bath? Or have you discovered that mindfulness and meditation help you to feel good? Whatever things make you feel cared for, write them down on a list, so that when you do need to practice self-care, you don’t have to think about what will make you feel better, you just need to refer to the list! 

Call in the professionals 

In your recovery, there may be a moment when you realize you need more than just the help of a friend or a meditation, and that is a powerful realization. For some, the help of a professional could mean a psychiatrist or therapist, whereas for others that could mean seeking alcohol treatment in a center or with a group. Whatever your need is, it’s a strong moment when you learn to take care of yourself. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda