Coping with trauma triggers might not only be challenging to the traumatized individuals but also the people around them. Here are some tips that might be helpful to cope with trauma.
Do not be afraid to seek help
Your family and friends are the first people you can talk to after a traumatic event. Seeking help from others does not mean weakness. Rather, it shows strength. Coping with trauma triggers includes asking for help and support. Share your thoughts and feelings to people you trust and care about. Doing this releases all the negative emotions you’re keeping to yourself.
Take your time
Trauma will not go away in a snap. Neither is recovery linear, progressing from step A to step B and so on. Coping with trauma triggers and recovery will take time and hard work. Allow yourself to slowly recuperate and do not force yourself to open up and talk about what has happened. Giving yourself time to heal physically and mentally will exponentially help you to quickly recover from trauma.
Limit the use of any media platforms
Excessive use of media platforms while currently experiencing trauma might worsen your condition. You cannot control the news, articles, and social media posts you might encounter. Some media contents might trigger flashbacks and can set off trauma reactions.
As part of coping with trauma triggers, you might avoid watching videos about disasters, crime, and other trauma triggering visual contents. These types of contents might bring back memories of your previous experience/s. Avoid using any social media platforms, until you get better since frequent use of these platforms might make you more anxious, stressed, and depressed.
Likewise, avoid excessive use of alcohol, cigarettes, and unprescribed medicine in coping with trauma.
Do not force yourself to be sociable
After trauma, there are moments that you would want to be alone, and that is fine. There are also moments where you only want to be with people who are closest to you, and that’s normal. You don’t need to force yourself to go out and meet with friends when you’re not ready yet.
In coping with trauma triggers, try spending more time with yourself, and with people who are dear to you. Doing this will help you to slowly get back in socializing with other people again.
Do ‘normal’ activities
Engage in activities such as exercising, playing video games, or listening and playing music. These can help you relax and clear your mind from all worries and exhaustion. You don’t need to do all these activities in a day. Take your time to slowly get used to doing your usual routine one at a time.
Recognize emotions associated with trauma
It’s important to recognize that your behavioral and emotional responses are normal reactions to extreme situations of stress and adversity. Facing your trauma could mean recognizing the emotions associated with the trauma.
Ask help from professionals or support groups
Trauma can trigger a lot of strong emotions that you can’t handle alone. Seeking professional help is the best option in dealing with this situation. Medical and mental professionals can help you recover faster through a range of therapies and medications.
Join support groups where you can find people with the same experiences as you. This will greatly help you realize that you are not alone. You will see a lot of people trying to get better just like you and be motivated to be better as well.
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