There have been countless times that I needed to cope with trauma of different degrees and emotions. No one ever tells you that there can and most likely will be some sort of traumatic event that will happen in your life. And that it will happen more than once. In my case it has been everything from education, to finances, to health, and love.
I would have hoped someone would have told me to brace myself for these events, but no one ever knows what you will face. So trying to prepare yourself for it will almost never work. Also, no two experiences are the same. And no two traumas (even if the same type of event) are the same either. The one thing in common with all of these events, is that you are stronger than them all. And if you are not stronger when you’re dealing with them, you will be after.
You have the will and the power deep inside you that will come out and shine. This is what I like to call your source-energy, where every good thing comes from. All you need to do is tap into that energy to help you get through this period of your life. Because, as the saying goes; this too shall pass. And it will.
Look at me writing it out so easy as though it is easy. On the contrary it has been the opposite for me. Regardless of some of the feelings or lack thereof, I do believe that processing your feelings early on is the best (not easiest) way to deal with moving forward. And whatever you have been through, process your feelings! You need to help your body, mind and soul heal. By no way does this diminish what you have been through. Nor does it ask the trauma to be forgotten. It is up to you to choose to forget if that helps you with healing. And in that case, that is okay.
Here are a few of the ways I believe will help you when coping with trauma. These strategies they have helped me in my own journey. I will state here that I am still fighting some current demons in my life from past trauma. Despite this, I’m taking my own advice one day at a time. And my goal is to help my mind, body and soul heal. It is also to expand my consciousness and awareness of ego vs. soul. This all takes time. Since you and I know nothing happens overnight, be easy on yourself. And remember, time heals (almost) everything.
Also, this book by Mark Wolynn has helped me understand a lot of my own life’s traumatic experiences and has given me additional tools to overcome my own traumatic experiences.
Alright, let’s get into it…
1. Do not Cope with Trauma By Yourself
We are told that we are strong and can handle anything, and quite frankly, I hate that shii. Even if I am strong, I am not superwoman. Oh and guess what? No one is! So when someone tries to tell you that you will be fine – do not go back to that person for advice. Coping with trauma is not something anyone should provide superficial advice on. Find you a friend, a family member, or a therapist who will help you through your difficult time. No one is meant to live life by themselves, so no one should expect to heal from trauma by themselves either. If you already have people in your life you can trust, then I say reach out to them. But if there is no one who will understand you, then please find a therapist to talk to.
2. Meditate to Cope With Trauma
If you are a seasoned meditator, please meditate. Meditation should be in your toolbox for almost everything in life. And coping with trauma is one of them. Connect with your higher self and realize there is stillness in all of us, and we can find peace and healing is that space of stillness. Under all that we are, we are infinite beings having this human experience. You are more than your body. You are definitely more than your thoughts. In your meditation, release the fears, anger, hatred, and every other low frequency energy into the black space, and ask for these thoughts to be removed from your space.
Related: How to become Emotionally and Mentally Strong in 5 Steps
3. Acknowledge and Respect Your Feelings
Do not shut out your feelings to deal with at a later time. The sooner you address the hurt, the sooner you will start to heal. However, sometimes things are too fresh in your head and your emotions are raw and everywhere. And that may not be the time to process, and that is perfectly fine. When you do feel that your emotions are in a safer place, then unwrap this event and process the emotions. The reason we need to do this is that we are highly capable of shutting off feelings and emotions in a place within us. Never to be spoken. And these emotions start eating us up slowly but surely throughout our life.
4. Peace Inspires Your Healing
Make peace with it because it is going to heal you.It may seem easy for me to say make peace while coping with trauma that only you are experiencing. While I’m not dismissing your emotions, making peace is for your healing and no one else’s. If someone hurt you, make peace with it because you no longer want this person to have any hold over you. Make peace with it so you don’t go 10 years (yes, that was me in one of my traumatic experiences) without forgiving, all the while burning inside with the anger towards the other. If you hurt someone, ask for forgiveness – in person or in your mind. Tell the person what you did and how it hurt them and ask for forgiveness.
5. Forgiveness
Forgive everyone including your self. Do not punish yourself because of what has happened. Whether you had a hand in it or not, trauma can take you down for life. It is not supposed to do that, but if you let it, it will. Switch up your emotions; remove the negativity from your life. Replace people in your life, if that’s where this trauma is coming from. Forgive whoever, and whatever you need to do, to become a better person for you. Forgiveness of every kind, heals.
In Conclusion
Coping with trauma is NOT EASY! Sometimes it can feel impossible. What you need to know is that you are stronger than anything that comes against your soul. Nothing in this human experience should define how you live your life. You have the right to choose how you want to live. Your life, your terms. Know that just because you coped with trauma in your own way, this doesn’t mean you didn’t go through it. All it means, is that you went through it and came out stronger on the other side. Self healing and self worth despite trauma will give you what you need to move forward. And you should be proud of yourself for even trying. Do not give up on you. I pray that whatever happened to you, will not have a hold on you, poppet.
Cheering you on your journey to self healing.
Featured photo courtesy of pexels.com
