Traumais an emotional response to an overwhelming and threatening event.
Making sense of a traumatic incident and its aftermath is hard.
Healing may feel impossible.
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Reactions to trauma can beacute or long-term.
Traumatic events can lead to disturbances or decline in emotional, physical, and interpersonal well-being.
In some instances, reactions to trauma can lead to a diagnosis ofpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).
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Examples of traumatic responses may include:
What Is Considered Traumatic?
People may also have varying degrees of reaction to trauma.
Some may have acute or shorter reactions that they can work through independently.
Conversely, others may have a more challenging time dealing with distress related to the incident for longer periods.
Just because the experience is over doesn’t mean you haven’t been deeply affected.
It can take time to recognize and understand what’s happened and what it means for you.
Letting go implies that we are releasing ourselves from parts of the past.
This can be challenging when we’ve createdbondsor have meaningful memories attached to people, places, and things.
Human beings also have a hard time with change.
Freedom in Letting Go
Letting go can be scary.
It doesn’t mean you’re minimizing or invalidating your experiences.
On the contrary, it can be an act of freedom and healing.
you could be there by being an active listener.
Relationships
Relationships involve emotional proximity, vulnerability, and intimacy.
Events leading to trauma in a relationship may be recurring, making healing complex.
It can help tocreate boundariesfor yourself during healing, connect with trusted individuals, and find a safe environment.
Death
Losing a loved one is earth-shattering.
Witnessing the death of another or sudden death can complicate the loss.
Part of healing is understanding that grief is an ongoing process.
It’s normal to feel angry after a traumatic event or relationship.
Other emotions often come with anger.
It can be a signal that something deeper is happening.
Finding healthy ways to channel this emotion can help you cope.
Control
Traumatic situations often involve incidents where someone didn’t have control.
The anxiety and fear that surfaces can be overwhelming.
Regret
Trauma can lead to feelings of guilt, self-blame, or regret.
The reality is that those actions may not have changed the outcome.
Addressing these thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can help with moving toward acceptance.
It may be hard to think of yourself getting to a place where you feel better.
The pain and aftermath of a traumatic event can be short-lived or chronic.
Ultimately, you could work closely with your therapist to determine the best approach to starting your healing journey.
Resources for Help
It can be hard to know when to reach out for help.
However, an event or situation causing you significant psychological or physical distress can be an emergency.
The following resources are available 24/7:
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
What one person perceives to be traumatic may be different from another person.
The effects can be overwhelming.
Focusing on your mental and physical well-being and seeking therapy can help you heal.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services.
