Life can be filled with unexpected twists and turns. Along the endless journey, its likely that you may encounter trauma that leaves lasting scars.
In your youth, specifically, in your 30s, it’s advisable to confront wounds that were created by your past experiences, so that you can heal from them, in order to continue on your path of growth.
Believe it or not, traumas that have not been dealt with have an impact on your health and well being.
On the surface, they affect your mental well-being through stress and anxiety, but they’re also known to cause inflammation in your body.
In this blog post, we will explore strategies that can help you deal with and let go of past traumas, by empowering you with the tools that you need on your journey to healing, and ultimately your journey of growth.
Acknowledge the Trauma
The first and most crucial step towards any healing process is acknowledging the trauma that you have experienced and the feelings that are triggered by that experience.
It’s important to give yourself permission to not only acknowledge the pain and the impact that it had in your life, but also let yourself feel it too.
Make the conscious decision to not bury your emotions, with the hopes that they will vanish. This will only prolong your internal suffering along with the healing process.
By facing your trauma head-on, you create an opportunity for growth and genuine healing.
Seek Support
Remember that you don’t have to experience your healing journey alone, often you may for various reasons want to avoid getting other people involved when you are dealing with traumatic experiences.
You may be overwhelmed by feelings of guilt or shame and you may assume that the next person would judge your personal experience, as others often do. Instead of focusing on the possibility of being judged, try to remember and accept that everyone has their own opinions on everything including you.
But their opinions may not necessarily be a bad thing, try to use them as perspectives instead of receiving them as judgement.
With that said, it’s important to choose wisely who you’re going to share intimate parts about yourself and your trauma with.
Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, or professionals who can walk with you during your healing.
Talking to a therapist, coach or seeking support groups can provide a safe space where you can comfortably and fully open up and share your experiences.
Through compassionate listening and guidance, they can help you navigate the emotions that arise and provide valuable insights for your healing.
Practice Self-Compassion
You deserve kindness and love all the time, especially during this time of healing. However, oftentimes, we tend to be harder on ourselves than other people are on us.
Practice self-compassion by treating yourself with the same care and understanding you would offer to a good friend.
Constantly remind yourself that healing takes time and that it’s okay to have good and bad days throughout the process.
Be patient with yourself, celebrate all your victories, big or small. Even if its getting through a single day without experiencing the feelings that once followed you because of your trauma.
Then give yourself permission to rest and recharge whenever you need to.
Challenge Your Beliefs
Trauma has a way of shaping our beliefs about ourselves and the world. So, it’s crucial to challenge these beliefs and replace them with more empowering ones.
Recognize that your past does not define you, it never has and never will, so don’t give it the power to do so. The power over your life and who you are is yours alone.
You may find yourself having given up parts of it as you go through life, but you need to remember that you can ALWAYS take it back.
You are not defined by the traumas that you have experienced. By reframing your perspective and focusing on your strengths and resilience, you can regain control over your narrative and embrace a more positive outlook on life.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help you stay present and ease the emotional burden of past traumas.
Engaging in activities like meditation, breathing exercises, or journaling can help you process your emotions in a safe and controlled manner.
By staying grounded in the present moment, you can release anxiety and create space for healing and growth.
Embrace Self-Care
Self-care is essential throughout your healing journey. Engage in activities that bring you joy, nourish your soul and make you feel good about yourself.
Whether it’s practising yoga, taking make-up or cooking classes, taking long walks in nature, reading a good book, or enjoying a hot bubble bath, prioritise activities that replenish your energy.
Self-care reminds you that you are worthy of love, joy, and wellbeing.
Release and Let Go
Finally, it’s time to release and let go of the emotional baggage that has been burdening you.
A helpful task would be to write a letter to your past self, expressing forgiveness and gratitude for the lessons learned.
If you don’t like writing things down out of fear that someone may find it, then be sure to destroy it after you have read it back to yourself.
During your writing exercise, visualise yourself releasing the traumas, letting them float away like balloons into the sky, freeing yourself from their grip.
This symbolic act can bring closure and enable you to embrace a future untethered by the pain of the past.
As you navigate the path to healing and letting go of past traumas, remember that you are never alone.
Lean on your support system, practice self-compassion, and celebrate your progress and remember that healing takes time.
But with patience and consistency, you can discover a renewed sense of self, reclaim your power, and embrace a future filled with all sorts of limitless possibilities.
Activity: Creating a Trauma Release Collage. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Gather Materials
Gather various magazines, newspapers, art supplies, and a large sheet of paper or a poster board. Ensure that you have access to scissors, glue, markers, and any other materials they desire to express themselves artistically.
Step 2: Reflect on the Trauma
Take some time to reflect on the past trauma you want to let go of. This can include journaling about your emotions, memories, or any significant moments related to the trauma.
Step 3: Visualise Healing and Growth
Shift your focus towards the future and envision your healing and growth beyond the trauma. Think about what a life free from the weight of the past looks like to you. Try to explore concepts like self-love, resilience, joy, and personal growth.
Step 4: Create the Collage
Flip through the magazines or newspapers and cut out images, words, or phrases that resonate with your vision for a life beyond the trauma. The collaged images should represent the emotions, aspirations, and values you want to embody. Arrange and glue these pieces onto the large sheet of paper or poster board in a way that feels visually pleasing and meaningful to you.
Step 5: Reflect and Discuss
Once the collage is complete, take a step back and reflect on your creation. Ask yourself questions to delve deeper into the symbolism and meaning behind the chosen imagery. This can provide valuable insights into your desires, goals, and the steps you can take to move forward.
Step 6: Set Intentions for Healing
Identify key intentions or affirmations related to your healing and moving beyond the trauma. These can be phrases or statements that capture your newfound perspective and the positive outlook that you have embraced. Write these intentions on the collage or a separate sheet of paper.
Step 7: Revisit and Revise
Display your collage in a prominent place where it can serve as a daily reminder of your intentions and goals.
Over time, you can revisit the collage, adding new elements or modifying it as you grow and progress on your healing journey.
This Trauma Release Collage activity serves as a powerful visual representation of letting go, healing, and embracing a brighter future.
It empowers individuals to express themselves artistically, explore their desires, and set intentions for their personal growth and healing.