When people hear the word “trauma” they might think of war veterans or sexually abused children. But trauma can happen even if you’ve had the kindest of parents.
Many people are born with sensitivity to stimuli, and the slightest anger might traumatize them for life without them knowing it. In fact, the people who have normal families are the ones most likely to feel ashamed and guilty of seeking psychological help for their problems .
They view their issues as being too small to cause much damage. These are the people that would benefit the most from knowing that trauma is not what happens to you—it is about how it affects you.
Freud once said that all trauma follows a chain of similar earlier events.
This is important to keep in mind because most of us repeat the trauma of our childhoods without being aware of it. We often learn about the damage when it’s already been done.
Knowledge will make you aware, and awareness is what will save you from repeating the mistakes of your past.
Below are the symptoms of unresolved trauma. If you resonate with any of the points listed, then you’ve come to the right place to help you get started on your healing journey.
You will benefit from trauma healing if you:
- Tend to fall deeply for people who cannot give you the care and attention you yearn for; and you’re not interested in anyone else because there’s just no chemistry with other people.
- Find yourself in the company of people who routinely disrespect or take advantage of you. Worst of all, they blame you for their actions and never take responsibility for the way they’ve hurt you.
- Are habitually late.
- Procrastinate on all of your important yet non-urgent goals—such as your goal to meditate, do yoga, work out more, journal your thoughts, write that novel, publish the blogs.
- Ruminate on things constantly, including: how you could’ve done something better, how you’re doing it all wrong, why someone treated you a certain way, which decision to go with, or how a mistake you made will lead to a cascade of failures that will make you end up homeless or make you move back in with your parents.
- Cannot get out of bed in the morning.
- Sleep too much or cannot sleep at night.
- Feel anxious around other people.
- Imagine horrible things happening and frightening yourself because of this doomsday prediction.
- Cannot express your emotions, express them too much, or vacillate between too much and too little expression.
- Are uncomfortable with accepting help, attention, kindness, love, gifts, respect, or admiration from other people.
- Pull away every time you get too close to someone emotionally.
- Leave when things get challenging.
- Stay too long in an abusive setting.
- Cannot figure out when to quit and when to persevere.
Do any of the above points ring true for you? If yes, then you’ll benefit from exploring how to heal trauma. I hope this blog serves as a springboard to a better future for you.
