A Guide to Healing from Trauma

If you’ve suffered from trauma, you might feel like you’ll never find the light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps you’ve been struggling with anxiety or depression since the traumatic event, and your symptoms have become so severe that you’re starting to suspect you might have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Maybe you’re wondering if you really have a chance to feel like yourself again.

Trauma can make it seem like things will never get better. But healing is well within your reach. However, this process takes time and patience. You’ll want to find trusted people you can turn to for help. Here’s how to start down the path of healing from trauma.

Seek Support

First, don’t assume that you have to tackle this process by yourself. While you may have to step away from relationships with people who hurt you, healing does not have to occur within isolation. If you have family members or close friends whom you trust deeply, you can open up to them gradually.

It’s also a good idea to connect with a therapist. While friends and family can provide invaluable support, a therapist who has been trained in different treatment approaches for trauma can serve as an objective third party as you focus on healing.

Take Care of Your Physical Needs

Trauma can make it difficult to sleep, eat on a regular schedule, get exercise, drink enough water, or practice other healthy habits. But you deserve to feel nourished, well-rested, and hydrated. When you’re struggling with your healthy habits, your mental health will likely suffer, too. Try to go to bed at the same time each night, and make an effort to prep simple, healthy meals that you can reach for throughout the week. Making time to move your body each day can also lift your mood.

Set Healthy Boundaries

If you’ve lived through trauma, you might have difficulty stepping away from relationships that do not serve you. You may engage in people pleasing as a trauma response, because it seems like placating people will help you avoid getting hurt. Additionally, you might settle for treatment that you don’t deserve because your trauma has affected your self-worth. It’s time to start setting basic, healthy boundaries within your relationships and reevaluating your relationships with people who cannot respect those boundaries.

Reconnect With What You Love

Trauma can take you away from the activities you were once passionate about. By taking small steps to reconnect with the hobbies and activities you used to enjoy, you can feel like you’re getting back in touch with the person you used to be. Maybe it’s been a while since you read a good book, went for a run, took an art class, visited a museum, or baked something tasty and indulgent. You deserve to find joy in your passions again.

Be Willing to Think Outside the Box

Healing from trauma looks a little different for everyone. What if one method or approach doesn’t work for you? Try changing direction rather than assuming that healing simply isn’t possible. It’s okay to meet with different therapists or switch support groups if one doesn’t click with you.

Maybe you don’t find spending time in nature particularly beneficial, but creating art helps you process your difficult feelings. This is an opportunity for you to get curious about what makes you feel whole again, and you might find answers in places that you never expected.

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Are you struggling to heal from trauma? A therapist can help you through this journey. Reach out to us to learn more about your options for booking your first session.