You are a trauma survivor. You survived a traumatic event or recurrent episodes of trauma. You may feel isolated. But you are not alone. There is still life ahead. It may take time to heal from this experience. Over time you’ll get strong and be able to find peace.
You Are a Trauma Survivor
When you are in survival mode, you have three options. The first is to fight back. You may feel anger or even rage about the incidents that caused your trauma.
The second option is to flee. You may have anxiety. You may feel afraid of the perpetrator or environment involved with causing your trauma. You can also feel fearful of the future. Fleeing to a safer place can help you regain control of your life.
The third option is to freeze. You feel emotionally numb. You are unable to get in touch with or express your feelings.
Fighting back and fleeing are options that involve your conscious and unconscious parts of yourself. Both are short term solutions to safeguard yourself. Yet your unconscious mind causes you to freeze and be emotionally numb. It is your primary survival strategy…at least for now.
Here is the good news…
Emotional numbness is a way for you to protect yourself. You become numb when you face someone or something you perceive to threaten your life. Emotional numbness prevents you from painful feelings of terror, shame and loss that you experienced recently or earlier in life.
As a trauma survivor, you are alive and can still live the life you choose. You see, trauma survival is the first stage toward recovery and healing. It is a necessary stage for you to slowly regain your emotional and mental equilibrium. Your nervous system can help you to resolve threats. This is possible no matter how long ago the threat(s) happened. Without going through this biological process, your body may continue to trap a real past threat that stays part of the emotional freeze you have now.
What You Can Do As a Trauma Survivor
The more severe your trauma, the longer and more difficult it can be for you to recover and heal. As a trauma survivor, you can come out of emotional numbness by doing a few things.
• Love yourself and appreciate who you are and what you have in life
• Do NOT make any major decision right now
• Ask others to care for your children, parents or anyone else who depends on you
• Engage in pleasurable thoughts and activities to calm your nerves
• Seek support of a mental health therapist to speed up your recovery and healing
Just remember you are a trauma survivor.
Don’t Suffer Alone. Get the Help You Need.
Trauma hurts. But you can heal. That’s why Center for Trauma Counseling in Palm Beach County provides prompt and effective mental health services for children and adults at a cost you can afford.
You Can Feel Safe With Us.
We listen to you and empathize with your pain. We tailor a path of recovery and healing for you. And we encourage you to help yourself create the life you choose.