Emotional And Psychological Trauma: Learning To Heal From The Trauma And Move On With Your Life...
After you have experienced some type of trauma in your life, it is not uncommon to struggle with bad unsettling emotions, and a constant sense of danger. When bad things happen in your life, it can be difficult to get past it and to start to feel safe. This type of trauma can destroy your sense of security. You don’t have to have gone through any type of physical harm to go through emotional trauma.
What Types of Events Can Cause Emotional Trauma
There are types of events that can cause emotional stress. It could be something that happened unexpectedly or something that you were not prepared for. It could be something that you were powerless to prevent it and it could be something that happened repeatedly. You could feel emotional trauma when someone was being cruel or due to something that happened in your childhood.
What Types of Things Can Result in Emotional Trauma
There are several things that can cause psychological or emotional trauma. It could be after a one-time event, such as a violent attack, living through a natural disaster, being in an accident or being severely injured. Constant and ongoing stress, such as living in a dangerous neighborhood or battling a life-threatening illness can also result in emotional trauma. Finally, there are causes that are often overlooked, such as the sudden death of a loved one, the end of a serious relationship, or a disappointing or humiliating experience.
Who Is at Risk of Going Through Emotional and Physical Trauma
Some people are at more risk of going through emotional trauma than others. If you have been through trauma before, especially during your childhood, you are more likely to go through it again. You could have lived in an unstable environment, dealt with the separation of a parent or the illness of a parent. If you dealt with bullying or sexual, physical, or verbal abuse as a child, you are more at risk. Finally, seeing domestic violence in the home or if you were neglected, you are at greater risk of suffering from similar trauma when you are older.
Symptoms of Emotional and Psychological Trauma
There are several symptoms of emotional trauma, and they are not all emotional, there are also physical symptoms as well. The emotional symptoms include:
-Shock and denial
-Anger, irritability, and mood swings
-Self-blame and guilt
-Feeling hopeless or sad
-Difficulty concentrating
-Confusion
-Anxiety and fear
-Withdrawing from your life and from others
-Feeling numb
The physical symptoms include:
-Nightmares
-Difficulty sleeping
-Being startled easily
-Rapid heartbeat
-Muscle tension
-Fatigue
-Aches and pains
Moving Past Emotional Trauma
If you have experienced a traumatic event in your life and you are suffering from one or more of the following symptoms, there are a few things that you can do to get past the trauma and move on with your life.
#1 Exercise
Trauma can disrupt your body’s equilibrium. When you go through something serious, your nervous system can get stuck. This can leave you in perpetual fear and in a constant state of hyperarousal. When you start to release endorphins and burn off some of the adrenaline, it can get your nervous system going again. The best way to do this is through exercise. If you can do 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week, that is great. If not, do three, 10-minute intervals. The best type of exercise is cardio. Also, you should do an exercise where you need to use your arms and legs.
#2 Don’t Isolate Yourself
The first instinct that most people have after a trauma is to isolate themselves. If you do this, it will only make you feel worse. You may not think that you need other people, but connecting will help. You can connect with others even if you don’t want to take about what happened. Reconnecting with old friends is a great way to help you feel connected again. If you participate in social activities, it will make you feel like part of the world again and it will keep you mind off things for a while. If you think you are ready, you should seek support from anyone from a friend or family member or from a professional counselor. You can also join a support group for people who have gone through the same type of trauma. This is a great way to make new friends with someone who has been through the same things that you have been. If you feel that you should be compensated for what you have gone through and there is someone that you can hold responsible, talk to an injury lawyer.
#3 Self-Regulate Your Nervous System
When you are starting to feel anxious, agitate or feel like things are out of control you need to calm down. The best way to do this is to regulate your nervous system. One way to do this is to breathe. Take 60 deep breaths and focus on your breathing. You can also try sensory input. If there are any sights, smells, or tastes that make you fee calm and safe, use them. Even just petting an animal can help to soothe you. If you stay grounded, it can really help to calm you down. Sit in a chair with your feet on the ground. Look around and try to find 5 objects in the room that have blue in them. This is reset your focus and help to relax you. Finally, when the bad feelings come up, let yourself feel them. Trying to push them down will only make things worse.
#4 Focus on Your Health
Your physical health has a great deal to do with getting past emotional trauma. Start by getting enough sleep. If you are getting less than 7 hours of sleep each night, it can make your symptoms worse. Try going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time every morning. Some people will drink or do drugs to self-medicate. This will only make the feelings of depression and isolation worse and it can increase your anxiety. Eating a well-balanced diet will keep your energy up, which will reduce your mood swings. Sugary and fried foods will exacerbate the symptoms, and foods rich in omega-3 fats will boost your mood. Try regular servings of flaxseeds, salmon, walnuts, and soybeans. Finally, try relaxation exercises, such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercise.
Emotional trauma can put a huge strayyin on you and it can disrupt your life. If you know how to get past psychological and emotional trauma, you will have a better chance of moving on and being able to live your life again.
By Elliot Caliera
