Trauma is any deeply distressing or disturbing experience that causes mental/emotional anguish and pain. Everyone will experience some form of trauma in their lifetime. According to The National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention, 60% of adults report having experienced abuse or other difficult family circumstances during childhood. Also, 26% of children in the U.S. will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn the age of four. Trauma doesn’t have to be a prolonged season of suffering if you take the right steps to care for yourself.
Listed are six practical strategies to help comfort yourself after a traumatic experience:
Read the Bible. Pray to God and seek Him for reassurance, guidance and meaning. Let God’s word offer comfort in your time of deep need and distress. Joshua 1:9, Psalm 9:9-10, Psalm 27:1-3, Psalm 32:7-8, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 are great scriptures to comfort you.
Go for a walk outside for 20-30 minutes. Walking outside will take you out of your environment and present state of mind. It can offer you a better perspective on your current situation and allows your body to release excess anxiety and pent-up energy.
Buy lavender essential oil and use a diffuser home to calm your body and mind. Research has shown essential oils have great calming effects and affords the body to relax and restore.
Find a licensed therapist to recount your trauma story…the sooner the better. Counseling is a proactive and effective way to restore peace and contentment back into your life. Counseling offers a release from the trauma burden.
Learn to soothe your mind using mindfulness activities suggested by your therapist. Mindfulness is a proven strategy to help your mind reflect and release the trauma story while helping you to not continue to relive and be triggered by your past experience.
Let your therapist guide you to local support groups, or find an online support group for depression or anxiety to help you recover. Being in connection with people provides great recovery, healing and support as you are encouraged by people’s stories of perseverance and hope. Sharing experiences with others who have gone through a similar experience can bring a great relief to you.
