5 Signs You’re Healing from Trauma
Signs you’re healing from trauma — Trauma appears in many different forms, such as physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, accidents/hospitalizations, witnessing a stressful event, loss of a loved one, and so forth. Going through terrifying or stressful experiences like these may leave emotional or psychological scarring.
It doesn’t take long for the impact of these situations to begin infiltrating all other areas of life.
The only way to begin to heal from trauma is to address it, often therapeutically. Though, each individual has their own journey and will progress through the stages of healing in their own time and in their own way. And as you know what to look for, you will begin to see signs you’re healing from trauma.
1. You Allow Yourself to Feel Emotions
One of the first reactions that come from being exposed to something traumatic is to hold in emotions, suppressing them and pretending as if they don’t exist – even though they do. The mind is incredible and this shutdown is often automatically done as a way of protecting you and keeping you safe. In other words, the trauma was overwhelming, so the body reduces its response.
Unfortunately, because the emotions are still there, it is common to try finding many different ways of keeping them from rising to the surface so that they don’t have to be felt, such as using drugs, alcohol, or food to feel numb.
One of the signs you’re healing from trauma is when you are able to allow the emotions to come. You no longer try to stop them. In order to process the trauma and emotions that stem from the trauma you experienced, you have to allow yourself to feel the emotions. This means allowing yourself to cry, scream, and get angry. By doing so, you can gain a better understanding of why you feel the way you do and why the emotions are present – and then you can let them go.
2. You Let Go of the Heavy Baggage
If you have encountered a traumatic experience, then there is a good chance you are carrying around a lot of heavy baggage. Maybe you don’t even realize just how heavy the suitcase has become because you have just become used to its weight.
Do you suffer from stress? Fatigue? Headaches/migraines? Stomachaches? This is how trauma can come through physically – usually due to psychological issues like depression, anxiety, and trauma.
You may find that your body is full of tension and knots. Maybe you jump at the touch of a loved one or always find yourself trying to focus – while keeping abreast of everything going on around you. All of this is heavy. Really heavy.
Another one of the signs you’re healing from trauma is when you can finally unpack the suitcase and let it go, removing the weight. Without the tension, trauma, and heavy emotions, you will feel lighter and more free. You will relax and still feel safe, even becoming comfortable with human touch and connection once again.
3. Living Mindfully – And Nurture Yourself
Another one of the signs you’re healing from trauma includes being able to live mindfully in this moment.
It is easy to allow trauma to force you to push life aside. You can stay as busy as you want to and make every effort to numb the feelings you have, but you cannot begin to heal until you begin to live on purpose.
How can you start living mindfully? Pay attention to your needs and wants. Feel confident in who you are and own how you feel. If you don’t want to do something, don’t. If you are feeling tired, sleep. If you have messed up, show yourself some grace.
Just be present in your daily routine and give your mind and body what it needs. When you are able to do this, you are experiencing one of many signs you’re healing from trauma.
4. Become More Self-Aware
Many who experience trauma tend to act like the trauma itself was no big deal. Laughing it off, they claim to be fine, diminishing the hold that the event has on them. But, in reality, they are controlled by the heaviness they are carrying and can’t overcome the triggers – they just don’t know it yet.
One of the signs you’re healing from trauma is gaining the ability to reflect and become more self-aware. As a result of doing so, you will be able to understand different triggers and stressors which will allow you to formulate a plan to move beyond them.
You will begin to understand who you are, what your needs are, and how to meet them.
5. Seek the Help You Need
The ultimate sign you’re healing from your trauma is being willing to seek support and ask for help.
You may think that you can get through it all on your own, but isolating yourself from everything around you is not the answer.
Let people in.
In a setting with professional guidance, you will be able to learn more about yourself. You will learn to openly share and talk about the situation you experienced. You will be able to let go of your emotions around others so that you can begin to work through them. You will learn to advocate for yourself, including your needs and wants.
Building a community of acceptance and connection can help you to begin growing and healing.
Healing From Trauma at Amend Treatment
Are you ready to see signs you’re healing from trauma? The team of mental health professionals at Amend Treatment is here to guide you. Your healing journey may be your own, but that doesn’t mean you have to go through it alone.
Build up your support and give yourself the gift of tools and resources to overcome any type of trauma you have experienced. This is the first step in reducing the weight you are carrying so that you can finally be free.
With treatment and modalities that are sure to meet your needs, let us help. Contact Amend Treatment today to get started.