When you experience a traumatic event, it can be tough to see a way through the pain. If a loved one experiences a traumatic event, you might worry if they will ever recover. It is important to realize that recovery is possible. How is it possible? The road to recovery is individual to each person. The first step is to believe in recovery, and then be willing to try different things to help your mind and body heal.
Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal is a great way for you to let out your emotions and thoughts in a positive manner. You may feel that it is unacceptable to rant about your situation, but it can be very therapeutic to unleash your negative emotions onto a piece of paper. As you do, you may start to learn more about the core nature of your struggles. This is a very important discovery on the road to recovery.
Keeping a journal is also a way for you to record and remember the happy moments that you experience. When going through trauma, it can be hard to recognize the good and easy to focus on the negative. By journaling about the positive experiences, you are having, you can find a more positive perspective on your life and situation.
Join a Support Group
Although your situation is likely unique in the details, there are likely many others that have experienced similar trials. You can connect with these individuals by joining a support group. There you will find people that are further along in their recovery. They will be able to offer you insights and access to resources that you may find helpful. You will also find people that are struggling with issues that you have laid to rest. You can help them to find the same peace that you have found. If nothing else, there is a lot of comfort in knowing that there are people that understand what you are going through.
Try a New Fitness Routine
Exercise is one of the greatest ways to diffuse stress and tension. Not only does it give you a positive release for pent up energy, but exercise also releases endorphins into your brain which can help you feel happier. Try picking a fitness routine that you have always wanted to do, but never tried. The novel experience can give your mind something to focus on. Doing something new will give you the chance to set goals and accomplish them. The success you find there will help motivate you in the goals you set for yourself in other aspects of your recovery.
Get a Pet
A traumatic event usually makes it difficult for an individual to develop emotional connections with others in a healthy manner. Getting a pet can allow a person a safe way to practice emotional connection. Dogs are generally a good choice since they exhibit a lot of love and affection for their caregivers. However, make sure that you do your research before selecting a breed. You should choose a breed that is relatively easy to care for. If you pick one that is too much of a handful, it may cause you more stress. There are many dog breeds to choose from, and you should be aware of hypoallergenic breeds if you are allergic to pet dander.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” There is a lot of truth to this statement. If you eat good food, you’re going to have better physical and mental health. If you eat junk food, you’re going to feel like junk both physically and mentally. While recovering from trauma, it may be tempting to indulge in comfort foods. While it isn’t a bad thing to have some here and there, you need to make sure that you don’t develop a poor diet. A poor diet will make it difficult for your mind to think clearly and it will become harder to regulate your emotions.
Change of Scenery
Sometimes, moving can be the right move to make. Part of recovery is learning to no longer be scared or afraid. If you are living in a place where you are constantly being reminded of the trauma that you experienced, then it is going to be difficult to move forward. While you may eventually wish to be able to face the place and people involved in the event, taking a break from it all can give you time to rest and build up your mental and emotional strength. However, for best results, it is important that you leave for the right reasons. Don’t run away from your problems. That mentality will make it difficult to heal. Instead, you should decide to leave a bad situation to find a place of healing.
Connect with Family
Humans are social creatures with a need for emotional connection. In general, those connections are much easier to form with those that we are related to. If you have family that is not involved in the trauma, it may be a good idea to reach out to them. If circumstances permit, you may want to go stay with them. While you are there, do your best to be helpful. Serving your family will help you feel like less of a burden. You will also find that your self-confidence will increase as you are able to impact others for good. In a healthy family, there are few people that will care more for you and your wellbeing.
Meditate
You are going to need to process a lot of things after a traumatic event. Recovery generally requires a fair amount of soul searching and getting to know yourself. It’s important that you do so in a safe and compassionate manner. Learning the art of meditation can be very helpful in doing this. Successful meditation isn’t as simple as sitting down with crossed legs and closing your eyes. It’s usually best to start out by using some guided meditation. This can help you learn to approach your thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner.
Keep in mind that your pathway is going to be unique to you. There is no one right way to recover from a traumatic event. What works for someone else may work for you, or it may not. Don’t force yourself to participate in a particular method that isn’t working. Don’t be upset with yourself if your progress is slower than you might wish. Be patient and love yourself. Keep in mind that the simple fact that you are trying, means that you are stronger than you may believe.
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