The definition of trauma, according to the American Psychological Association, is an emotional reaction the human body experiences after the mind has been through a drastically damaging event. This includes PTSD, a disorder many veterans face, losing a loved one in an accident, sexual assault, or any other terrible incident.
Of the various forms of trauma that exist, there are widespread instances of almost each of them. For instance, 4 out of every 100 men and 8 out of every 100 women report an episode of PTSD at some point in their life. As for depression, 7.2% of all Americans have had a major event of it, and the percentage of anxiety is even higher at 19.1%. These are situations of trauma, and humans don’t tend to cope well in situations of mental trauma, which is why dealing with it is imperative.
Here are some ways in which you can manage trauma so that it can benefit you and your overall health:
- Never assume that you can deal with it on your own
One of the first things people do when they start experiencing mental trauma is lock themselves up. Although every person has a different way of dealing with traumatic episodes, isolation is common in most cases. However, experts recommend that it is not the best route to take. Of course, you may want to be left alone with your thoughts, but all that does is make things significantly worse. Talking to professionals, for instance, the team at WiseMind Counseling, can work wonders.
Therapy is one of the most efficient ways to handle mental trauma, but it doesn’t have to start with a doctor. What’s most important is that you need to open up. It doesn’t matter who you find to discuss what you’re going through with. Different people have different preferences. Some choose to talk to a stranger, for which there are platforms out there, while others like their best friend or a close family member to be their confidante, and some even start with therapy. You can choose in this regard, but it is crucial to let things out.
- Find ways to calm yourself
Besides isolation, one of the after-effects of going through something terrible that eventually leads to your trauma is overreacting. People lash out at others for no good reason; they are harsh and overstep certain bounds that can land them in trouble. On top of that, there are also episodes of trembling, flashbacks from the actual event, frequent breathlessness, and elevated heart rates. In each one of these cases, you need to calm yourself down.
When suffering from trauma, you are scared, disoriented, and not in the right frame of mind. This is something you slowly need to take care of, and the best way is to find ways to calm your nerves when they start acting up. Find the thing that works for you. It may be yoga, meditation, exercise, or any other physical activity. For others, it can be deep breathing exercises, which is also a common thing psychologists recommend. Whatever it is, you need to find the one that works best in your case.
- Look after yourself
When experiencing trauma, you can’t let yourself get lost in the abyss. You need to slowly but surely make your way back. The first step towards doing this is to start looking after yourself. Between isolation and acting out, you will definitely begin to ignore yourself. You will eat less and less, stay up all night, and let your work performance fall substantially. The repercussions of these steps pile up and result in you losing almost everything you have.
The only way to avoid this is to look after yourself more vigilantly than before. It is crucial that you eat right, maybe even better than you did before. If you have trouble completing a full meal at one time, break it down into smaller parts you can consume throughout the day. Make exercise a strict part of your routine since it helps you reduce cortisol levels. And whether it is as part of the steps you are taking to calm yourself, dedicate some time to yoga or meditation. Don’t forget your sleep cycle is also crucial, so ensure you get that back on track.
- Quit any addictions that you have
When suffering from mental trauma, you can find yourself looking for solace in numerous addictions. For some, it is smoking; for others, it is alcohol or even drugs. It is all about finding that one thing that can offer you peace from the torture your mind keeps putting you through. Here’s the thing, though; your brain is part of your body, and once you understand you can train it, you’ll be surprised at the wonders it can help you achieve. So, instead of numbing your head with addictions, it is best to make it get to work at ditching these things completely. It is guaranteed that you’ll find more satisfaction this way.
- Getting involved in your community helps a lot
Doing good for others often translates into you feeling good about yourself. This is why one of the ways in which you can facilitate trauma recovery is by lending a helping hand within your community. Find a cause you’ve always been passionate about. It may be anything from feeding people to finding shelters for the homeless or getting help for other trauma patients. Whatever it is, as long as it is close to your heart, it will help you overcome your troubles. Moreover, the satisfaction and gratitude that comes from helping others will make you realize all the good things about you, eventually leading you to feel happy again.
Conclusion
Going through something that leads to mental trauma is tough, but as bad as it may be, it is not the end of the world. Even after going through something like this, your life goes on. Letting the trauma and its effects take over is bound to leave you with nothing. This is why it is important that you focus as much energy as you have on recovering. It will be hard and daunting, and you’ll want to quit almost every minute, but it is essential to find the motivation to keep going. Your life is never a lost cause, and it is imperative that you trust that no matter what the circumstances.