The Power of Trauma

When trauma seems to take a major place in your life, nothing seems to be in our control. Things fall apart, making you feel helpless and needy. Everything seems uncontrollable and out of hand. It would be wrong to say it is all in our head because it really depends on the situation. However, it's a process of separation. Unfortunately, life and time, both of them keep going, irrespective of any other aspect which is why it gets hard to keep up in your life, to do your daily chores, pursue responsibilities and so on. Trauma is a funny thing. It is unpredictable and not easy to understand. It affects people differently. The same incident can affect one person adversely and another person subtly. One person may showcase it on the outside whereas the other person might not be able to showcase at all.

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like death, accident or rape. It comes in various forms and affects vividly. Usually someone who has experienced trauma would be left with the latter emotional baggage of it- the flashbacks, upsetting thoughts, memories and anxiety. Trauma does not necessarily have to mean physical. Something that has never met you or seen you can also play the role of giving trauma. Few weeks back, I was speaking to a friend of mine. We were talking about mental health, trauma, abuse etc. When he said he wanted to share about how he experienced trauma, it was an eye opener for me. Though I know that physical means are not the only vehicles of trauma, the thought of trauma being physical/emotional or sexual abuse has rooted deep in my subconscious mind. He told about how his thoughts gave him trauma which makes a lot of sense.

Coping up with trauma can be subjective and not relative. It differs from person to person. You might be having your set of coping mechanisms that might not work for me. In the initial period, talking helps, to a certain extent. It helps you express, relieve it out of your mind and body. Later on, we need certain techniques to heal. At times seeing the same topics on news or social media, looking at the videos and images can cause immense traumatic stress.

The thing about trauma is that it is and will be a part of everyone. You might heal and gradually those memories, thoughts and flashbacks might or will fade away. You will become stronger and learn from it however there is never a guarantee that you will never remember it again. At rare occasions, maybe you would remember it again or might feel uncomfortable by the overwhelming memories and emotions but you will eventually heal. It will be a part of you and that’s what will make you unique. The cause for your trauma can not be justified. However, the way you’ll rise from it will matter a lot. Like someone said, “ What doesn’t matter is how many times you’ve fallen down but what matters precisely is the fact how you’ve gotten up every time.”

Here are some ways to start:

1. Exercise everyday for 30-60 minutes

2. Try mindful thinking/ breathing

3. Ask for support, if you feel you need it

4. Share when you feel like doing it. Don’t rush your mind.

5. Join therapy, support groups if you need support

6. Try slow thinking. Feel your body parts. Notice the surroundings

7. Get sleep

8. Avoid sugary foods, drugs and alcohol

Today, 27th June, is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day. You will get through this. Here’s a big salute to all those survivors!🎗