Healing from Trauma
If you have gone through a traumatic experience or are suffering from PTSD, it can often feel like a life sentence and something you will never be able to escape from.
“Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls your life.”
– Shah Rukh Khan
However, whilst the process towards healing can be challenging, it is possible to recover and not only to survive but to thrive as well.
Can you ever fully heal from trauma?
In short, yes. It may take time and you may not be the exact same person you were before, but you can learn to process trauma, develop healthy coping strategies and to not feel like it holds you back in any aspect of your life.
How long will it take to heal from trauma?
There is no set amount of time in which a person should heal from their trauma and going through a traumatic experience is bad enough without a person putting pressure on themselves to “get better”.
It’s important to work at your own pace when going on the journey of recovery and understanding that, unfortunately, change will not happen overnight.
A person who has experienced trauma will never forget what has happened to them, however, with the right support and treatment, they can recover and live a happy and fulfilling life.
Eight tips to help you heal from trauma
- Acknowledge what has happened: Going through a traumatic experience can trigger the same five stages often associated with grief, the first of which is denial. Going into a state of denial and acting like nothing has happened delays the healing process because the road to recovery cannot begin without an acknowledgement that something distressing has happened.
- Seek professional support: Trauma and PTSD can be complex conditions to manage, and it is important to seek the support of a mental health professional who specialises in these areas. Therapy can help individuals process and make sense of their traumatic experiences, develop coping skills, and learn relaxation techniques to manage symptoms.
- Build a support network: Having a supportive network of friends and family can be incredibly beneficial for individuals living with trauma and PTSD. This support network can provide emotional support, help with day-to-day tasks, and offer a safe space to talk about experiences.
- Practice self-care: Self-care is an essential component of managing trauma and PTSD. This can include engaging in activities that promote relaxation, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises. It is also important to prioritise good sleep and to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Get moving: Releasing endorphins is a great way to improve your mood and this applies to people suffering from trauma and PTSD just as it does everyone else. We know that going for a run is not going to cure you overnight, but regular exercise is immensely beneficial to reduce stress and focus your mind.
- Set boundaries: Living with trauma and PTSD can make it challenging to engage in certain activities or social situations. It is important to set boundaries that feel comfortable and safe, and to communicate these boundaries to others. People who have your best interests at heart will be supportive.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs: When you’re struggling with difficult emotions and traumatic memories, you may be tempted to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. But substance use worsens many symptoms of trauma and PTSD, interferes with treatment, and can add to problems in your relationships.
- Be kind to yourself: Healing from trauma is not an overnight process and people may feel tempted to chastise themselves for not healing “fast enough”. Going through the journey of recovering from trauma can be exhausting so it’s imperative that a person allows themselves the space and the time to do it at their own pace. Therefore it’s important to be kind to yourself during this process – take regular breaks, prioritise yourself, don’t expect too much, and don’t feel disheartened if you have a bad day. Recovery is not linear – whilst you may have taken a step backwards today, that does not detract from the numerous steps you have taken forwards in the past.
Final Thoughts
No matter what traumatic experience an individual has gone through, their emotions and feelings are valid and they deserve to feel seen and listened to.
Thankfully, therapy exists and allows people who suffer from trauma and the best therapy for PTSD to address the issues an individual is experiencing and provide professional advice and support.
If you are unsure about seeing therapist, contact the Therapy Room for an initial chat. This will allow you to talk freely and openly about the issues you are experiencing and allows us to recommend a course of action.
You have already taken the first step by reading this blog.
Let’s get you back to good.
Founder Jay L Pink Ad.Prof.Dip MBACP PC MNCS (ACC) established The Therapy Room to offer high quality, expert counselling and therapy services to people of all ages, as well as to couples for relationship and partner counselling and groups for corporate and family therapy. Jay’s commitment to anyone visiting The Therapy Room is to unconditionally respect values, lifestyle, background and beliefs, offering a discreet and professional service tailored to their needs.
Therapy is held either in-person at The Therapy Room in Northampton or online.
To organise a booking, please visit our bookings and payment page.
