One of life’s harsher truths is that sometimes, bad things happen. We endure personal tragedies, like losing a loved one, battling an illness, or experiencing violence. We’re affected, directly or indirectly, by large-scale devastation, from natural disasters to a global pandemic, and most recently, the threat and upheaval caused by the invasion of Ukraine.
These high-stress events can trigger a specific emotional response known as trauma. Some traumatic events are isolated, or acute, while others are chronic, repeated experiences. And some people, because of their race, ethnicity, cultural identity, etc., experience historical trauma spanning across generations.
If you’re struggling with the effects of trauma right now, know you are not alone.
While there’s no quick fix for recovery, there are ways to move through it by supporting mental and emotional wellbeing. Here are some strategies.
However, these types of beliefs inflict the pain we feel back onto ourselves. Especially when coping with traumatic events, we need to treat ourselves with self-compassion and recognize when the beliefs we hold are adding weight to our burden.
What beliefs are you carrying about the trauma you’ve experienced? How can you rewrite these beliefs so they better support your healing? For example, maybe “What happened is part of my story, but it does not define me.” Or, “Not everyone deserves my trust, but there are some people who still do.”
Think through the resources you still have at your disposal. For example, develop an emergency action plan with your family, such as where to meet and how to get in touch if phones aren’t working. The act of planning, even in the midst of uncertainty, offers a sense of control and preparation.