Are You Struggling to Move Forward After a Traumatic Experience?

Has an assault, accident or illness, eroded the feelings of stability and security you once had in your body and your world? Are you weighed down by the pain of the past? Maybe a pain you thought you’d buried, such as abuse, betrayal or neglect during childhood, has reemerged, making you feel on edge, defeated and worried that you will never be truly safe or free. Alternately, you may be feeling hyper-vigilant, unsafe or anxious without knowing why. You may be having nightmares, flashbacks or unpleasant memories that interrupt your ability to feel at ease, fulfill your responsibilities or enjoy the present moment. Perhaps, when you least expect it, a smell, sound, taste or feeling floods you with discomfort or fear, and you’ve begun to avoid people, places or situations that could potentially trigger distress. It may be that you are always on-guard, anticipating danger, and you’re opting out of career, relationship or life opportunities in an attempt to protect yourself from harm. Is fear driving your decisions and shrinking your sense of self? Do you wish you could resolve pain, feel safe in your own body and gain peace of mind, confidence and hope?

Coping with the aftereffects of trauma can be an exhausting, overwhelming and helpless experience. As you replay the traumatic event over and over in your head, looking for what went wrong and what you could have done differently, you may struggle with intense shame, guilt and self-blame. Maybe a part of you believes you deserved what happened, and you doubt your worth and strength. If the trauma occurred long ago, or if your memories are hazy and vague, you might worry that something’s wrong with you for feeling such intense pain today. You may fear that you’re broken, and that the life you want to live is beyond reach. Perhaps you feel cut off from your true self, lost and unsure of how to reconnect with your spirit and move forward as the whole, resilient person you want to be.

You Are Not Alone or Broken

Trauma takes many forms. Some people experience a single life-threatening event, such as a natural disaster, physical assault, car accident or significant rejection. Some survive ongoing, continuous trauma in adulthood or childhood, such as emotional or physical abuse, war or bullying. Without realizing it, many of us experienced birth trauma or a dangerous experience at the very moment we entered the world.

Most people have encountered a traumatic event at some point in their lives, and many of us are carrying the pain of the past, whether we know it consciously or not. Childhood trauma and birth trauma can be especially insidious, shaping the way we understand and navigate the world in ways we aren’t fully aware of. It’s also possible to experience different types of trauma in one lifetime, and new challenges or threats can not only be overwhelming on their own, but also raise buried trauma to the surface, leaving us feeling overwhelmed or even paralyzed.

Early traumatic experiences are stored in our cellular memory, below conscious awareness, and can cause us to think that the unease and disconnection we are living with is just the natural way of life. In fact, all trauma is stored in the body. And, when trauma is not resolved and released, it can develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and make it feel nearly impossible to live a fulfilling, authentic life.

The good news is that your life doesn’t need to be limited by shame, fear and pain. A trauma therapist who specializes in emotional and spiritual healing can help you resolve trauma, realign with your highest self and move forward with a new sense of grace, lightness and empowerment.