Healing From Trauma
For Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) patients, their amygdala becomes hyperactive, its overreaction to minor perturbations leading to an outpouring of stress hormones. Traumatic events might undermine a person’s sense of safety that create a catastrophe by activating the amygdala which alerts all the body functions to prepare the defensive mode. The Fight/Flight/Freeze response are our natural self-preservation mechanisms. To understand them is key to a healing process.
As a result of a trauma, we will feel confused, helpless and overwhelmed. Experiencing flashbacks, self blame, feeling restless, noticing smells, sounds, tastes that remind you of the traumatic event, including physical sensations are common symptoms associated with PTSD. It is difficult to process and overcome this alone and proper qualified support is essential. PTSD is the result of many different experiences that have caused extreme levels of stress. However, not everyone who experiences the same events will have PTSD since we each have different resilient abilities, which means we process events in different coping ways. Events such as a car accident, or the loss of a loved one, or surviving a natural disaster or being harassed or even bullied can cause some of us to develop symptoms associated with PTSD. There are different degrees of trauma and not everyone who has a trauma will necessarily have PTSD.
The Steps of Healing:
☐ Recognise the symptoms you are experiencing for example those mentioned in the text above.
☐ It is important to create safety and stability as the next step.
☐ Focus on establishing physical safety through reconnecting with your body by using specific breathing exercises.
☐ Ask yourself if you are safe where you are ie in your room, house, environment.
☐ Assess if you can establish safety where you are.
☐ Learn how to practice mindfulness - perhaps you may require someone to guide you.
☐ Avoid isolating yourself. Reach out to your family, friends or support group.
☐ Avoid doing things that trigger your stress levels. This is an essential part of learning self care
☐ Rest enough and take care of your health.
☐ Consider doing some exercise.
☐ Look for a qualified therapist. Approaches that help are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing (SE) are effective.
☐ Talking with someone who knows and understands what you are experiencing is key to assist in the overall process of working through the trauma by reclaiming and transforming the memories.
☐ Be patient and move step by step.
☐ When ready, you will begin to be able to integrate and develop a sense of self to create a new life story.
☐ Healing is possible - no matter how long it may take - the key is to move step by the step with the right support approach and system
If you have questions or would like to get help, please feel free to contact me: jeremy@alfordjeremy.com