If there is one thing certain in life, it doesn’t come without its fair share of obstacles. These obstacles will vary in terms of intensity and your ability to withstand them. You may not always surpass these challenges unscathed, and they may leave a mark on your soul.
Sure, wounds heal, and scars blend, but the damage is done. The experience sticks with you and flares up every once in a while. Let’s discuss how one can deal with personal trauma.
Keep Your Calm
Take a moment and breathe. The worst has passed. When the trauma begins to surface, take a breather and realize that you are no longer the person you were before, nor are the circumstances the same.
Turmoil has the ability to change someone for the better. Take pride in knowing you are now stronger, more capable, and wiser than before.
Remain in the moment and embrace the now.
Communicate
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is reach out for help. Communicate with others about whatever it is that you’re feeling. The more you let the trauma fester inside, the more it will corrode your spirit.
Seek the shoulder of a friend who wants the best for you. These are the people who will help you heal.
Therapy
Sometimes, you need a professional to help you in your healing journey. Seek a good therapist with the accolades to ensure you receive the best treatment possible.
When speaking to a therapist, ensure you are candid with your emotions. This should be your safe space to express your mind and recover.
Take Care of Yourself
After you’ve been through a traumatic experience in life, the best thing you can do is look out for yourself in every way, shape, or form. Whenever you notice yourself thinking about that event, do something that makes you feel good; perhaps it is painting, singing, or going on a walk. You’ve been through enough; don’t let your thoughts sabotage the happiness you can experience today.
Face Your Feelings
We are scared to confront our emotions; in this fear, we let them overpower us. Feelings are dynamic and constantly changing. Hence, we cannot let them control our life. You should approach your problems logically and with courage. You are resilient, you are strong, and there is nothing that can take that away from you.
Trauma isn’t easy to deal with. There is one protagonist who can agree. Vanessa, orphaned and lost, has been through the worst in a time when racism was prevalent; she chose to run away from her problems and lead a good life… for the most part.
Vanessa has survived a Ku Klux Klan attack, a back alley abortion, and overwhelming grief, but she chose a different approach to deal with her obstacles. Donning the identity of a white deceased baby, she is reborn into her new life.
Life takes a turn for the better, but not for long. The big question is, can she keep her deceptive calm?
Grab Patricia Skipper’s exhilarating book, Deceptive Calm, now available on Amazon.
