What happened to you isn’t your fault by healing is your resonsibility.
Experiencing trauma can result in feelings of powerlessness, shame, and anger. While these reactions are common, they may not contribute to the healing process. Recovery can bring about resilience, empathy, and inner peace.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when trauma responses persist long after a frightening or dangerous event. Our bodies naturally engage in fight-flight-freeze responses when faced with shocking or dangerous situations.
After a challenging event, it’s common to return to a normal state, but sometimes we may not, leading to trauma reactions. These reactions may involve flashbacks, recurring memories of the event, avoidance of triggers, irritability, risky behaviors, negative self-perception, and loss of interest in activities. Recovering from trauma is a difficult journey but achievable. The process begins with establishing safety and stability. Following a traumatic experience, feeling safe is challenging as our body remains in a stressed state. Once a sense of safety is established, it becomes feasible to process the trauma by retelling the story, culminating in the creation of a new self-perception as part of the healing process.
Seeing a licensed therapist trained in Trauma Focused Psychotherapy can be the most helpful first step. Seeking help isn’t easy and isn’t always seen as needed.
PTSD is not always immediately apparent since attention is usually drawn to the visible behaviors of an individual. For instance, someone displaying anger may be dismissed as having anger issues, which is partially true but not the complete picture. PTSD manifests in various ways, such as someone being aloof and evasive, avoiding conflict and refraining from further action.
Supporting friends or family who are facing challenges may involve empathizing with their struggles rather than immediately taking action. However, when someone is dealing with mental health issues, the most helpful approach is to encourage them to seek professional assistance.
Trauma is often an invisible wound, and its full impact may remain unknown. While understanding someone else’s trauma is not essential, offering support in their healing process is crucial. If you notice someone going through a tough time, it’s important to motivate them to seek the help they need.