Facing trauma is tough. Many folks find it difficult to admit they need help. It’s not easy to open up about fears and painful memories—we often just want to shove those things aside and get on with life, pretending the past never happened. But the reality is acknowledging and dealing with the pain is a crucial step toward healing.
However, this isn’t always the case. You can’t just bury your trauma and be done with it. The best thing you can do is to face your trauma and learn how to deal with it effectively and healthily. Trauma counseling proves to be a helpful approach to healing. You may have to invest tons of patience, time, and money in it, but all professional local therapists near me will assure you that your life will definitely change for the better.
Whether you’re done with therapy or still going, there are things you need to consider.
Your trauma recovery is a process
Trauma recovery is a process. It’s not a quick fix. Honestly, it can take up a lot of your time, patience, and effort. You can’t expect to bounce back instantly after several sessions with your therapist. It takes gradual steps to face challenges and allow yourself the time to heal.
If you take a closer look at it, there’s no shortcut to trauma recovery. You have to remind yourself many times that healing takes time. You can’t rush the process. But you also need to know that even how small your improvement is, it is still something significant and meaningful.
Healing is not a competition
Every person’s experience is unique, and this includes trauma recovery. You may know some people who have similar trauma as you, but they turn out to be okay and not affected by it. You have to avoid comparing your recovery from them. No matter how similar your situation is, your responses and reactions to your trauma are different.
It is wrong to compare your healing journey to others. It is not the appropriate way to track your recovery. It will only bring you down. The best thing to do is to focus solely on how much you have improved since the start of your trauma counseling.
You need to dedicate your whole being to recovery
In the journey of trauma recovery, dedicating your whole self is like giving yourself the most profound gift of healing. It’s about embracing every part of you – all your thoughts, feelings, and body. For some people, taking the step toward healing is more like their way of loving themselves.
It’s not just about fixing up your wounds. It goes beyond that. Therapist will suggest that you can use the pain and fears you feel in becoming a better person. You can use them as a way to remind yourself that you need to be wiser with your decisions from now on. Slowly but surely, you start feeling more in charge of your own life. You feel more liberated and optimistic. In the long run, itt becomes easier for you to talk about your experiences without getting hurt.
Surround yourself with good people
Talking and socializing with others can be difficult for people with trauma. They feel that they’re different when, in fact, many of us have our own share of bad memories and fears. For sure, it’s not easy on your part, but one way to heal is to surround yourself with people who love and support you. They want nothing but the best for you.
If you’re not ready to mingle, it’s okay. Don’t punish yourself if you can’t do it yet. For instance, you can arrange a quick lunch date with your close friend. Just make sure that you still connect with these important people.
You can choose to join a support group
Joining a support group in trauma recovery is like finding a lifeline in the journey toward healing. It reminds you that you’re not alone in your struggles. You meet people who share similar experiences as you, and yet they survive and have a wonderful life. When you’re with them, you feel safe, and opening up your feelings and thoughts comes easy for you.
Connecting with others provides a different kind of support that friends and family might not understand. You feel good when you become a part of these groups because here, you’ll realize that sharing your experience, no matter how unpleasant it is, is one step towards healing.
Never be afraid to talk about everything to your therapist
Sometimes, you can’t help but be intimidated or shy with your therapist. Even if you have bonded for months now, you still see them as strangers and don’t want them to judge you.
Talking about everything to your therapist, regardless of how trivial the topic is, is an important part of the healing process. Your therapist is there to support, guide, and understand you. They’re not sitting there to judge and criticize every decision you make.
Keeping things from your therapist can hinder the recovery process. It may not be easy at first, but once you get used to having an honest and open conversation with your therapist, it is easier for you to heal and grow.
If you are considering trauma counseling, you can visit Mindshift Psychological Services. Learn more about their services and their professional local therapists near me on their website. You can also contact them at (714) 584-9700 to schedule an appointment.
